===
The Saitama Seibu Lions went 2-3-1 against the Rakuten Eagles for their home series. They now sit in 5th place of the Pacific League as a result.
===
Game 1: Kona Takahashi vs. Hayato Yuge
Takahashi couldn't retire a side with two outs, leading to some back-breaking runs. Ryosuke Tatsumi hit a two-run HR and Hiroto Kobukata had three RBIs to down the Lions. At one point, the Lions had a lead thanks to two 2-run HRs from Takumi Kuriyama and Ernesto Mejia. Kobukata had to score a timely off Kaima Taira with inherited runners to put the Eagles up for good. Mejia added a second HR, but it was too late as the Lions lost 7-5.
===
Game 2: Sho Ito vs. Hideaki Wakui
The former Lion Wakui continued his strong form, getting double plays off the Lions whenever the bats looked like a threat. Hikaru Ota hit a two-run HR off Ito in the fourth and Hiroaki Shimauchi put the game away in the 7th having 3 RBIs off Hiromasa Saito\. Tomoya Mori and Mejia had back-to-back solo HRs in a losing effort. Wakui earned his 7th win of the season going 6.2 innings and five strikeouts.
===
Game 3: Kaito Yoza vs. Yuki Matsui
Both starting pitchers wouldn't last more than five innings. Yoza was yanked in thee third, where the Eagles scored three runs off a combination with Katsunori Hirai coming in relief. Tatsumi hit a solo HR while Hideto Asamura and Eigoro Mogi did damage with two RBIs each. The game looked like it could be close when the Lions pulled within one run, but the Eagles pulled away off the Lions bullpen when Shogo Noda allowed an inherited runner to score and Kaima Taira gave up two more runs. Wataru Takagi had two hits, including an RBI triple for his first career RBI and hits in NPB while in a losing effort as the Eagles won 7-4.
===
Game 4: Zach Neal vs. Takahiro Norimoto
Both starters wouldn't last beyond three innings, giving up six runs a piece. With this high scoring affair,the Lions erupted for six runs in the fifth inning with multiple timely hits in a row. Wataru Takagi, playing in his 5th career ichi-gun game, earned his first modasho and the Lions bullpen minimized the damage to break a seven-game losing streak.
===
Game 5: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Takahiro Shiomi
Matsumoto had seven shutout innings in what looked like an easy win. The Lions scored three runs in the first with help from a two-run HR from Ernesto Mejia. However, they continued to strand runners throughout the rest of the game and it came back to bite. Reed Garrett gave up two runs to make it a 3-2 game. Tatsushi Masuda also ran into trouble with the tying run on third base. With two outs, Ryosuke Tatsumi got the base hit to tie it at 3-3. Kaima Taira escaped a jam in the top of the 10th to secure a draw while Lions bats remained gone the rest of the night in this stalemate.
===
Game 6: Keisuke Honda vs. Yuya Fukui
Takumi Kuriyama hit a three-run home run and the Lions had no issue in this one. Hotaka Yamakawa had a home run while younger Lions got to contribute later. From Spangenberg's timely hits from Sena Tsuge and Manaya Nishikawa recording their first professional base hits as the latter was making his debut. Honda was able to earn his first win with five strong innings in an 11-1 rout.
===
Not ideal, but not the worst. Unfortunately it feels like this season is a lost cause, but the young players are contributing. Kuriyama looks good and hopefully Mori can get better, but the pitching isn't there.
===
Follow us on Twitter @GraveyardBall
No comments:
Post a Comment