Hanshin vs Chunichi: 13th match.

Tigers 3 - 2 Dragons

Kubo won the duel against Yoshimi. Hanshin is still in first place, the difference with the Giants is one game behind.

Context:

Since the are in third place, the Dragons are the direct opponents of the Tigers and the Giants. Hanshin has 6 wins and 7 losses against Chunichi, the Giants have 7 wins and 8 losses. Today two of the best Central League pitchers faced each other: Kubo from Hanshin and Yoshimi from Chunichi.

Summary:

Before Kubo could get his bearings, the Dragons scored the first two runs in the 1st inning. Then, in the bottom of the 1st, the third batter Murton was the first take a hit from Yoshimi, but this was not enough to worry him since the fourth batter was out and the inning ended. Nevertheless, the Tigers did a hit festival in the bottom of the 2nd: Brazell, Kanemoto, Johjima, Asai and Hirano batted hits. Asai and Hirano were the ones who tied. Hanshin's line-up will bat more hits during the game, but Johjima's homerun in the 4th inning was the clincher. Kubo found the good timing and prevented Chunichi from scoring until the two-thirds of the 8th inning. After a base on balls and a hit in the short stop's zone (Tori was unable to throw back), Kubo had to left the mound and let Fujikawa take care of the clean-up. Kyuji easily fulfilled his mission by striking him out. Despite a base on balls on the top of the 9th, the game ended without more problems. Hanshin won 3 to 2 and our closer won his save.

- The tops and flops of the game -

Top: Kubo's 9th win.

Kubo outclassed Yoshimi. In 7 2/3 innings pitched: 5 hits, 2 earned runs and 12 strike outs. Yoshimi's outcome was: 7 innings pitched, 12 hits (among which a homerun), 3 earned runs and 5 strike outs.

Flop: Tori: "I swing first and then I think about it".

Suzuki, the Dragons pitcher, gave an intentional walk to Asai, thinking that he could strike out the next batter Kyuji Fujikawa. There were already two outs but Johjima and Asai were on the bases (Johjima had just uselessly stolen the second base). But the battery was backfired by it plan because of the horrendous control of the pitcher, who gave a base on balls to Fujikawa. Toritani's turn came and the bases were loaded. Tori was able to see once more the terrible control of his opponent, since his first pitch was outside the zone. The second pitch was as bad as the first one but captain decided to swing anyway! The batted ball pop up and was caught by the second baseman.

Central League scores:

Tigers 3 - 2 Dragons

Carp 5 - 8 Giants

Pacific League scores:

Eagles 4 - 6 Buffaloes

Marines 0 - 2 Hawks