Let’s remember that it’s not about who wins and who loses. Unless we win. Then we can talk about how we’re going to be the champs this year. Anyhow…
March 6: Starting pitcher Shintaro Fujinami looked like a completely different man. He struck out the first and third batters, then the fifth and sixth, then the seventh and ninth! No hits, low pitch count, NO WALKS through three! Then with an out in the fourth, he hit old teammate Yamato, gave up a hit to Tsutsugo, and finally a (wind-aided) home run to Lopez. Down a quarter-dozen.
Reliever Hiroto Saiki is well on his way to making the starting rotation in April. He threw four near-perfect innings, striking out four and looking pretty good doing it. And he’s still a minor.
The bats came “alive” in the sixth when Yusuke Ohyama hit a double down the right field line to cash in one run, and then got a second run on a ground out. Just a skinny number behind.
Unfortunately, li’l Hiroya Shimamoto came in and gave up another home run, this one a two-run blast to right center, and the original lead was restored.
Not ones to back down, the Tigers gave it a go in the last inning. Fumiya Hojoh hit one up the middle to bring home one run. Unfortunately, that was all she wrote. Remember, it’s not about who wins.
Final Score: BayStars 5, Tigers 3
March 7: Another young starter for us! Taiki Ono is looking great this spring, and in this one, he scattered two hits and no walks through five innings, keeping the ‘Stars off the scoreboard.
Kyuji Fujikawa gave up one hit and struck out two in the sixth. Diego Moreno walked Yamato. The ex stole second, but then got caught trying to get another base a batter later. Moreno got Tsutsugo out on a soft grounder, and got some help from his outfield as Masahiro Nakatani caught Lopez’s fly ball at the wall. Crisis averted. Barely.
But in the eighth, there was no helping Tsuyoshi Ishizaki out of his jam. He gave up hits to the first two batters, and a sac bunt later, allowed a third hit, which cracked open the vault. Scoreless tie no more. And close game no more, as Ishizaki threw away a pick-off attempt and a second run scored. A sacrifice fly later, the lead was up to three.
Unfortunately, our bats did nothing until game’s end. Just one single (a Ryosuke Ogata Texas Leaguer — erased by a failed SB attempt) through eight. Down to the final out, Noriharu Yamazaki singled to right and was brought home by Naomasa Yohkawa on a triple. Three hits all day. The team also got free passes by Nakatani (BB + HBP) and Wilin Rosario (2 BB) but they were unable to score.