marte

Game 36 vs. Dragons: Comeback Left Incomplete

Game 36 vs. Dragons: Comeback Left Incomplete

The first inning of this one was extremely promising. Yuki Nishi needed just nine pitches to mow down the Dragons’ first three batters, while Ogasawara spent more than that on Koji Chikamoto alone, who got a hit out of the battle. Jefry Marte pulled the same stunt, and the Tigers had an early lead. Unfortunately,…

Game 32 @ Swallows: Last Team to Tie

Game 32 @ Swallows: Last Team to Tie

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Already at this point, the Pacific League had played 15 tie games, and the Central had 10. The Tigers were part of none of them. This was hardly the ideal scenario in which to break that streak – the two-run lead did not hold, and the bats were…

Game 31 @ Swallows: Late HR Barrage = Blowout

Game 31 @ Swallows: Late HR Barrage = Blowout

The Tigers put men on base in the first three innings, only to snuff out chances with double plays each time. It was beginning to look like the Swallows would win their first day game of the season, while the Tigers lost theirs, as starter Yuki Nishi sputtered in the middle innings. However, a clutch…

Game 27 @ Dragons: One’s Seldom Enough…

Game 27 @ Dragons: One’s Seldom Enough…

For the second straight game, our bats failed to produce multiple runs. While this one was close most of the way, two home runs in the bottom of the eighth served up by Yuta Iwasada made this one a blowout in the end. Hoping to avoid the sweep tomorrow with Wei-Yin Chen making his top-squad…

Episode 126: A Real Gaijin Problem

Episode 126: A Real Gaijin Problem

Hosts T-Ray, JD and Sanjay bask in the glow of the team’s previous 10 games, and then try to offer possible solutions to the import problem that manager Akihiro Yano is about to need to figure out: how to fit 8 highly talented imports on a roster with a 5-import limit? Also, here’s our post-show…

Game 21 @ Giants: Okamoto’ed

Game 21 @ Giants: Okamoto’ed

Riding an eight-game winning streak, the Tigers looked to continue the romp as two players (Koji Chikamoto and Jefry Marte) went yard in the first inning of this one… but that was pretty much all the action we got. Three more hits the rest of the way but nary a runner crossing home. Meanwhile, starter…

Game 20 @ Giants: Clean-Up Great; Streak at 8!

Game 20 @ Giants: Clean-Up Great; Streak at 8!

Though the Tigers were riding a 7-game winning streak heading into this one, the Giants were also on a 6-game tear of their own. Without some of their recovering Covid-infected players (Maru, Nakajima, Wheeler, Wakabayashi). Plus, there were rumors that Eric Thames and Justin Smoak could be activated for this series. No worries, though. Our…

Game 19: Undefeated in the Uglies!

Game 19: Undefeated in the Uglies!

You’ve no doubt seen the uniforms that Hanshin has revealed they will wear for the Ultra Summer week just before the Olympic (?) break. If not, highlights from the game are viewable below the scorecard… just brace yourself accordingly. This game got ugly in some ways, as the relievers nearly blew an 8-run lead… but…

Game 16 vs. Carp: Almost Perfect Game

Game 16 vs. Carp: Almost Perfect Game

Because of persistent rain on Tuesday night, Hanshin Tigers fans had to wait an extra evening to see a rematch between ace pitchers Masato Morishita and Yuki Nishi. Last time, the sophomore in red did just enough to get the win, as the Tigers dropped a 1-0 decision in Hiroshima. This time, things would be…