2020 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Franchise reaches 3,000 wins in Seibu era

 

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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 5-4 in their last nine games against the Fighters, Eagles and Buffaloes. 

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Game 1: Kona Takahashi vs. Naoyuki Uwasawa

The Lions bats had no answer for Uwasawa, who drew two double plays and went seven innings with only one run allowed. Sho Nakata and Yushi Shimizu both hit home runs off Takahashi, which was all the offense the Fighters needed. Takumi Kuriyama had two hits to boost his totals including a timely in the 6th, but it was too late. Yuji Kaneko recorded his 200th career stolen base as a consolation. 

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Game 2: Shota Hamaya vs. Drew VerHagen

Hamaya allowed three runs in the second inning from a timely hit by Shimizu and a sacrifice fly from Go Matsumoto to start. The offense responded in the 4th when Fumikazu Kimura, returning from an injury, hit a three-run HR to tie it. Rookie Sena Tsuge also had a timely hit to make it 4-3. Two more timely hits from Takumi Kuriyama and Kimura gave the team enough runs to hang on. Sho Nakata hit a HR and Hamaya went 5.1 innings, but the bullpen stopped the team in its tracks with the tying run on base in the 6th and 9th innings. Ryosuke Moriwaki and Tatsushi Masuda got key strikeouts with two outs. 

With the Lions winning, it was their 3,000th win in franchise history since 1979, the first season since moving to Tokorozawa and being in the Seibu era. 

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Game 3: Sho Ito vs. Kenta Uehara

Ito could't escape the Fighters bats and was lit up for four runs over 3.1 innings. The Lions allowed at least one run for seven consecutive innings, including a HR from Haruki Nishikawa. With the mop up duty team destroyed by the Fighters bats, Takeya "Okawari-kun" Nakamura hit a consolation HR which was his 200th at MetLife Dome.  

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Game 4: Zach Neal vs. Takahiro Shiomi

Ernesto Mejia had three RBIs with two timely hits as well as a smart slide on a double to score a run. Cory Spangenberg was the hero in the top of the 7th inning with the go-ahead run when the game was tied 4-4.  Neal, gave up four runs and couldn't record an out in the sixth, but the game remained tied when Tetsu Miyagawa was able to cover up any further damage. This game snapped an EAgles five game losing streak. 

Mejia also announced his uncle passed away that day during his hero interview, having a "CM" written on his cap.  

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Game 5: Sean Nolin vs. Ryota Ishibashi 

Nolin left after one inning due to shoulder tightness, forcing the bullpen to take majority of the game in relief. When the game was tied 1-1 in the 5th, Fumikazu Kimura was in CF and threw out a runner trying to score. It proved to be vital as the Lions bullpen stranded runners nearly each inning. Sosuke Genda broke the tie with a two-run triple in the bottom of the 7th and earned a modasho for his efforts. it was his first hero interview of the 2020 for the new Lions captain. 

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Game 6: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Ryota Takinaka

Matsumoto went seven innings and Mejia had two key doubles to bring in three runs. It resulted in a sweep of the Eagles as Matsumoto had another promising performance. 

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Orix Buffaloes

For those who have been following on Twitter, I took a recent vacation. From hearing the blunders of two shutouts and Takumi Kuriyama reaching 1,900 career hits, this series was a mess on offense with the pitching being subpar. 

At least it ended on a good note, when the Lions came back from trailing late as Hotaka Yamakawa hit a two-run game winning HR. By pitching a scoreless 7th inning, Tetsu Miyagawa earned his first career win. 

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This season has already been over and the series in Osaka already forced the issue that this team isn't good enough. Can only enjoy the good things in these dark times of no offense. 

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