The Tigers were gifted ten free passes, and a crucial error by the usually-reliable Carp shortstop allowed Hanshin to turn the tables in the sixth inning to steal a win in their first game at Koshien Stadium this season.
Starting Pitchers: Taiki Ono (1-0, 1.23 ERA) vs. Kazuki Yabuta (1-0, 3.60 ERA)
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With two runs and runners on the corners, Ono gave up two straight hits – to the bottom of their order – and things were off to a rough start.
Hanshin 0, Hiroshima 2
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After a double play, Kento Itohara collected the team’s fifth walk of the night, and Ryutaro Umeno lined a double to left center to bring him home.
Hanshin 1, Hiroshima 2
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Unfortunately, one of those “unwritten errors” cost the team, as an errant throw by Tsuyoshi Nishioka prevented the team from ending the inning with a double play. The runner from third scored, and the lead was back up to two. Ono’s outing ended when the inning was over. 5 IP, 106 TP, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 R, 5 K.
Hanshin 1, Hiroshima 3
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With one out, the Tigers got walks seven, eight and nine to stuff the bases, and a grounder got past their shortstop to bring home two runs. Hayata Itoh came in with runners on the corners and lined one off the pitcher’s glove into no-man’s land. The lead was ours at last.
ついに勝ち越し！！！このまま勝つぞ！！！ #hanshin #虎テレ pic.twitter.com/OjCvG8X1cp
— 虎テレ運用担当 (@toratele) April 10, 2018
Hanshin 4, Hiroshima 3
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Rafael Dolis walked Eldred on nine pitches, but after that things went well. Bunt, strikeout, line out to right. Balloons fly. Rokko Oroshi sung. Tigers win.