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vs. BayStars – April 29-May 1 – Slow Starts, Strong Finishes

After the embarrassment fed to them earlier in the week against the Giants, Hanshin had something to prove in this series. Could they make their week look respectable by taking their frustrations out on the last place BayStars? Game 29 – Friday, 4/29: K, I have to admit that I am not sure how many times…

vs. Giants – April 26-28 – Sweep Barely Avoided

Let me start off with my personal story. A friend of mine, who is a Tigers fan, said he wanted to take in a game before he left for the States at the end of the month. I found seats to Tuesday’s game despite it being a sellout. I’m pumped. Then I get word from…

@ Carp – April 22-24 – More Peaks than Valleys

Unable to get on a good roll and heading to a park that seldom helped them last year, the Tigers needed good pitching from their starters – something that has been their downfall most of the past week. Could the team use Thursday’s rainout to straighten out some of their problems? The tale of the tape…

vs. Swallows – April 19-21 – Rain Ensures Second Split

It’s hard coming home after a bad day at work. Or maybe it’s comforting? The Hanshin Tigers got swept and humiliated in three games in Nagoya against the Chunichi Dragons. Could they right the ship at Koshien against the defending CL champion Yakult Swallows? Game 21 – Tuesday, 4/19: Surely young ace Shintaro Fujinami would…

vs. BayStars – April 12-14 – Tigers Sweep ‘Stars in Two

After a disappointing opening series at Koshien against the Carp, the Tigers were determined to continue their push to the top against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars at home this week. With the Giants and Carp playing so well early in the season, they would need every win they could get against the young team led by…

vs. Carp – April 8-10 – Tigers Create Drama in Return to Koshien

At long last, the Hanshin Tigers would make their 2016 Koshien Stadium debut. The season was off to a decent start, all without having played on their true home turf yet. Could they take the momentum from their successful road trip – and dominant win against the Giants Thursday – back to their “Sacred Ground”? Game…

@ Giants – April 7 – Messe Gets 1st Win, Tigers Crush Rabbits

Fukudome, Egoshi hit HRs, Tigers Romp 10-1 Last season, the Tigers won just 2 games at Tokyo Dome in 13 tries. They needed just 3 games to match the total under new manager Tomoaki Kanemoto. Game 12 – Thursday, 4/7: Despite the clean-up hitters striking out consecutively to Giants rookie pitcher Kentaro Taira, they were…

@ Giants – April 5 – Tigers Devour Rabbits

Youngsters Shin & Shun Shine in Blowout Win Game 10 – Tuesday 4/5: Last season, the Hanshin Tigers finished the season 9-16 against the Yomiuri Giants, including a pitiful 2-11 record at Tokyo Dome. This included three losses to Tuesday’s starter Poreda. However, this is a completely different Tiger team. Shun Takayama started things off with a…