Series Recap – May 12-14, 2015

The last time the Hanshin Tigers had been swept two times in one season at Koshien was 2001. On May 11, they already matched that futility. They also became the first Central League team to reach 20 losses for the first time since 2001. They also had the game following their Koshien sweep rained out for the second straight series. Last time, they followed the day off with a 7-2 stinker to the last place Carp. Could they fare any better against the struggling Swallows at Jingu Stadium?

Game 1: On the mound to stop the bleeding was Minoru Iwata. Despite many Tigers media standing in Messenger, Nohmi or Fujinami’s camp as the staff ace, Iwata has led the team in ERA for much of the past season and some change. He kept up the strong pitching in this one, despite giving up several hits. His final line looks mediocre only because the relievers (namely Yuya Andoh) could not strand the runners they earned. Either way, the Tigers bats came to life, reaching double digits in hits for the first time in 12 games, and hitting two home runs (by Ryutaro Umeno in the third and Kosuke Fukudome in the 6th) for the first time in 33 games. They never trailed in this one, though each of their scoring innings were followed by the Swallows narrowing the gap. In the end, Seung-hwan Oh finished them off, despite giving up a leadoff home run. Goodbye, losing streak! Final Score: Tigers 7, Swallows 5.

Game 2: Tsuyoshi Nishioka wasted no time giving the Tigers an early lead, clubbing former Lotte teammate Yoshihisa Naruse’s fourth pitch over the left field wall (video here). Tigers starter Shintaro Fujinami pitched efficiently as well, but surrendered the tying run in the second inning on a solo home run. Fortunately for him, the bats came to work again tonight, and they reached double digits in hits and launched two home runs (the other was by catcher Kazunari Tsuruoka in the fifth) for the second consecutive game. The Tigers also achieved the rare feat (for them) of scoring runs in consecutive innings, as Yamato blooped a single to shallow right field, scoring Mauro Gomez and Matt Murton. And as we continue to speak of two consecutive games, Fukudome got caught in a run-down between second and third for the second straight night on that play. He is lucky the lead was three runs and that Fujinami brought his A game. He went the distance, shutting down the birdies the rest of the way for his first complete game victory of the year. Final Score: Tigers 4, Swallows 1.

The Tigers started the week 1.5 games deep in the cellar, and are now miraculously just a half game out of a playoff spot! This is because the DeNA Baystars swept the Chunichi Dragons and the Yomiuri Giants took two of three from the Hiroshima Carp. The first two slots in the Central are now quite separated from the bottom 4, which are quite clogged. Here are the standings:

From Friday, the Tigers will play three in Nagoya under the dome against the Dragons. New import Mario Santiago will make his debut on the mound as the Tigers hope to move even higher in the standings. Randy Messenger, who was demoted to the Western League for a tune-up, is scheduled to return to the team for their next series, a 3-gamer against the Giants at home next week. Over the weekend, it is possible for the Tigers to move into a tie for second or back down into sixth. They look like a different team out there (more confidence and energy), but we can only hope they can keep the momentum going through the weekend and until interleague play begins on May 26. Go TIGERS!

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