This was an important game to win once again, as the Giants completed their sweep of the Dragons earlier in the day. Well, all three imports did their jobs well today. Jerry Sands brought home the second run of the game with a single, Raul Alcantara pitched a clean 8th, and Mel Rojas Jr gave…
With the Giants winning earlier in the day, the Tigers needed a W to stay at the top of the standings. Starter Akira Niho did not get things off to a very good start with a couple of walks and an RBI hit… but he settled in, and the bats took over from the second…
The Tigers have been bad at home of late. I mean, really bad. The last time they won a three-game series at Koshien was May 11-13 against the Dragons, and that was due in part to a rainout. They got swept by the Baystars three weeks ago at home, and wanted so badly to end…
Koyo Aoyagi lowered his ERA even further, hurling 7 innings of one (earned) run ball. Still, he seemed destined to be the second straight hard-luck loser for the Tigers. After all, it took the Tigers 26 outs to finally come to life. Held off the board for 8 ⅔ innings, and giving up three runs…
You can say what you want about the nature of this game ending in the top of the seventh with the Giants threatening to make it a close game. The fact of the matter is that the grounds crew know the field better than anyone, and they do not play favorites. When they can fix…
Everything is lined up for this to be a lucky game for the Tigers: it is Tanabata Festival Day (make a wish day) in Japan, it is 7/7, and game 77. You’d think that would be enough for us to get some cool mojo going, like a ninth-inning three-run home run to give us 7…
In case you missed it, there was a bit of a brouhaha in the middle of last night’s game. With runners on first (Jefry Marte) and second (Koji Chikamoto) and Teruaki Sato at the plate in the top of the fifth, play stopped mid-at-bat. Voices from both benches were raised to the point that they…
Now, I’m not going to excuse this game away as bad luck for the Tigers. You don’t win when you can’t hit in scoring situations. But a dribbler of a single by their pitcher extended an inning that coulda-shoulda-woulda-but-didn’t end after just one run. Nope, and another weak infield single broke the inning wide open….
Koyo Aoyagi did not look like himself tonight. Strike out the side? Finish the night with 9 Ks? And just one (intentional) walk? A single that led to a five-run rally? Not sure what to make of it. But hey, the three-game losing streak is over and the sun shines brightly on the team once…
I’m not sure if you all followed my guide and did your part, but fans across Japan (and around the world) made their wishes known, and the result is seven… SEVEN Hanshin Tigers getting voted into the All-Star games, which will take place on July 16 and 17 (Saitama & Sendai, respectively). Keep in mind…