2019 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Yamakawa's HR snatches victory

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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 3-3 against the Orix Buffaloes and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks. They are in second place in the Pacific League with a slim lead over the Rakuten Eagles.

Here is what happened this week with a wrap around series:

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Orix Buffaloes: 

The Lions went with a split start in Tuesday's opener as Hiromasa Saito and Yasuo Sano took majority of the load. It was a game of hitting batters and several ejections took palce as a result. Ryosuke Moriwaki hit a batter and the first base coach of Orix was thrown out by the umpires. Shuta Tonosaki's first inning HR was all the team needed in a laugher result.

For game two, the Lions overcame a 5-0 first inning deficit and Hotaka Yamakawa's two-run HR propeled them to a stolen victory. Taisuke Yamaoka and Daiki Enokida couldn't hold a lead for the night. Lastly, the Lions were destroyed ii Game 3 when Keisuke Honda allowed seven runs in the second inning alone. Mop up relievers gave up more runs, but the Lions padded their offensive stats in a 20-8 blowout loss.

Game 1: Lions 11, Buffaloes 4

Game 2: Lions 7, Buffaloes 6

Game 3; Buffaloes 20, Lions 8

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Softbank Hawks:

Kodai Senga was lit up for nine runs by the Lions bats and Kona Takahashi went seven innings to give most of the bullpen a rest. The Lions even jumped out to a 13-0 lead with home runs from Takumi Kuriyama and Takeya "Okawari-kun" Nakamura to pad a lead they never had to look back.

For game two, Ken Togame dug a 3-0 hole, including a solo HR allowed to a rookie, but the Lions fought back and took the lead at 4-3 in the 5th inning with two bases-loaded walks. Unfortunately, an error on Okawari-kun hurt Katsunori Hirai in the 7th and two runs were given up through doubles. Offense stalled with Hotaka Yamakawa botching multiple chances.

Things were similar in the third game where the Lions failed on their chances en route to a series loss, the third being in Kyocera Dome. Wataru Matsumoto went six innings with only two runs allowed in a losing effort.

Game 1: Lions 13, Hawks 8

Game 2: Hawks 5, Lions 4

Game 3: Hawks 2, Lions 1

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This week could have been worse. That being said, there is no room to breathe with the Fighters and Eagles on tap next. We'll see where this goes, but the team is just in limbo and going sideways, which is better than being backwards.

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