2021 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Swept in Osaka, failure to win

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The Saitama Seibu Lions had a disaster week of 0-5-1 against the Orix Buffaloes and Rakuten Eagles on the road. With a failure to win a game, they dropped to B-class and could remain there if this pace continues. 

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Game 1: Towa Uema vs. Daiki Tajima

This looked to be a high scoring affair with both teams scoring three runs after three innings. However, the Lions bullpen failed to stop the Buffaloes offense as all starters for Orix had at least one. Wataru Matsumoto took the loss in relief while it was tie while Yasuo Sano and Ichiro Tamura combined to allow six runs in the 8th inning for a Buffaloes rout. 

Buffaloes 11 Lions 3

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Game 2: Tatsuya Imai vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Imai stayed with Yamamoto in a tight pitcher's duel and even had a lead in the 6th inning. However, Adam Jones had a timely hit to tie the game and Imai was left in the game too long for the 7th inning as Yuma Mune hit a two-run HR to be the game winner for Orix. Sosuke Genda had a three-hit game, but it wasn't enough. 

Buffaloes 4 Lions 2

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Game 3: Sho Ito vs. Hirotoshi Masui

With the Lions mostly playing a bullpen game, this game was tied at three after six innings. It appeared the Lions would pull away in the 8th when they scored three as "Aito" Takeda cleared the bases on a double. This wouldn't last as Tatsushi Masuda allowed a bases-clearing double by Takahiro Okada and timely single from Yutaro Sugimoto to lose the game, all with two outs. It was the first blown loss for Masuda since 2019. 

Buffaloes 7 Lions 6

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Game 4: Kona Takahashi vs. Hideaki Wakui

This was a tight pitcher's duel with Takahashi allowing only two solo HRs to Brandon Dixon and Hiroto Kobukata through seven innings. Wakui looked like he would go the distance, but with two outs, Takeya Nakamura had a timely hit in the 8th inning to tie the game. Cory Spangenberg reached base five times with a two hits, including a timely double in his first ichi-gun game of the season. Both sides ended in a stalemate for a tie. 

Lions 2 Eagles 2

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Game 5: Keisuke Honda vs. Masahiro Tanaka

Honda allowed two runners on base in the first inning with two outs and should have escaped his jam on a grounder. However, the ball bounced off Nakamura's foot and into the outfield for a run by error. Takero Okajima added another run and that was all the Eagles needed on offense. The Lions had only four hits on the day and Nien Ting Wu had the lone timely hit. A failed bunt by Aito for a double play in the 8th sealed the deal in another low scoring loss. 

To add to this already bad result, Tomoya Mori left the game with an injury.  

Eagles 2  Lions 1

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Game 6: Katsunori Hirai vs. Takahisa Hayakawa

Hirai gave up five runs in the second inning and the Lions had no chance to defeat the Eagles rookie. It wasn't until the 5th inning where the Lions scored, but they already dug themselves a large hole. It was their sixth straight loss in their last eight games played. 

Eagles 8 Lions 4

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The near-worst case scenario happened with zero wins this week. Offense is below average while the pitching as a whole is the same. That's a combination for disaster. Who knows what lies ahead? The seat should be pretty warm for Hatsuhiko Tsuji. 

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2021 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Stalemate comes as foreigners join the team

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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 2-2-1 against the Fighters and Softbank Hawks in a five game homestand. They sit in A-class, but only lead the Chiba Lotte Marines by one game. There was other news this week from foreigners arriving and a recent retirement. 

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Game 1: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Takahisa Ikeda

The Lions offense was nearly non-existent again scoring only two runs and "Aito" Takeda had the only traditional RBI off a hit. Matsumoto didn't allow a run through five innings, but loaded the bases while failing to record an out. Yasuo Sano couldn't clean up the mess as Kensuke Kondo hit a single before the Fighters score two more runs which was enough to win the game. Ikeda went six innings while giving up three hits. 

The Lions had chances in the 8th and 9th innings, but couldn't cash in more besides Aito's timely hit. 

Fighters 3 Lions 2

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Game 2: Tatsuya Imai vs. Hiromi Ito

Imai went six innings and only allowed one run which came off an error from the infield. Timely hits by Nien Ting Wu and Tomoya Mori were enough as the Lions, for the fourth consecutive game, scored only two runs. Reed Garrett, Kaima Taira and Tatsushi Masuda closed out the game in a 7-8-9 format combining for eight strikeouts to split the series. 

Lions 2 Fighters 1

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Game 3: Kona Takahashi vs. Shunta Ishikawa

Yurisbel Gracial had a solo HR in the top of the first, but also cost his team a run in the bottom of the frame. Gakuto Wakabayashi appeared to hit a home run and Gracial gave up on the play, but the ball goes off the wall for a double and the Lions eventually score on a wild pitch. 

The game stayed tied until the 6th inning, when Tomoya Mori hit a solo HR. The 2-1 score stood as the Lions pitchers didn't allow any runs, yet stranded runners on base. Takahashi went seven innings and had to earn his final out on a foul out catch by Mori while diving. Taira had runners on first and third, but struck out Ryoya Kurihara on full count to end the top of the 8th. Masuda drew a double play from Nobuhiro Matsuda to close it out as the Lions won their second straight in their fifth consecutive game scoring only two runs. 

Lions 2 Hawks 1

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Game 4: Syota Hamaya vs. Rei Takahashi

Hamaya gave up multiple two-run HRs to Gracial and Nobuhiro Matsuda. which ended this one early. A sacrifice fly from Manaya Nishikawa was all the scoring from the Lions offense in this laugher. Hamaya lasted only four innings, allowing a total of five runs. Rei Takahashi shut down the Lions for six innings, which allowed Carter Stewart Jr. to make his ichi-gun debut with a scoreless frame in the 9th. Hamaya was deactivated after the game. 

Hawks 7 Lions 1

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Game 5: Katsunori Hirai vs. Yuki Matsumoto 

Both starters only allowed two runs and went six innings. It looked like the Lions would pull away when two timely hits from Haruka Yamada and Gakuto Wakabayashi were gappers, but Akira Nakamura hit a two-run HR off Masuda in the top of the 9th to tie it. 

With a fast 1-2-3 9th, the Lions ended up taking a draw. 

Lions 4 Hawks 4

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Imports join the team

All Seibu Lions import players finished the 2-week quarantine this week after arrival in Japan. Cory Spangenberg, Ernesto Mejia, Zach Neal and new foreigner Matt Dermody all joined the team and will have ni-gun action to start.  The Lions formally introduced Dermody on Saturday. You can see it here

All foreigners did their photoshoot this week too.

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Ikusei pitcher retires

Seibu Lions pitcher Aoi Tohno announced a voluntary retirement on Sunday after it was discovered a torn ligament from spring training continued to get worse. Tohno, 24, was an ikusei draft pick of the Lions in 2018. Last year, he appeared in 11 ni-gun games with a 3.74 ERA in 21.2 innings of work. 

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Could be worse? The Lions offense remains a liability. Let's hope Spangenberg and Mejia can put a boost to a raw and young offense. If anything, Wakabayashii is promising.

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2021 Seibu Lions Weekly Digest: Hirai dominates in salvaging road series

 

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The Saitama Seibu Lions fell to third place in the Pacific League and trail the Rakuten Eagles by one game for first place. They went 2-4 against the Eagles and Chiba Lotte Marines for what was a tough stretch. 

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Game 1: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Takayuki Kishi

Matsumoto had four walks in one inning and allowed a solo HR to do all the damage needed against the Lions. Kishi went six innings with two runs allowed, but the offense was mostly dead for the night. Disaster struck with Mitsuo Yoshikawa entered the 5th and 6th innings, allowing a combined eight earned runs to put this one away. 

Eagles 13 Lions 2

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Game 2: Tatsuya Imai vs. Takahiro Norimoto

The Lions had no answer for Ryosuke Tatsumi, who tripled and hit a HR in this one to give the Eagles a lead for good. Gakuto Wakabayashi had a modasho, including his first career HR, but it wasn't enough as Norimoto held the Lions to two runs over seven innings. Imai had three runs allowed in five innings while walking five batters. 

Eagles 6 Lions 3

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Game 3: Towa Uema vs. Ryota Takinaka

Takinaka had a perfect game through five innings and it wasn't until Aito Takeda had a base hit in the 6th to break it up. It was another day of poor offense with a shutout. Making his ichi-guu debut, Uema went 5.1 innings, but gave up home runs to Eigoro Mogi and Tatsumi in what was a drubbing to secure first place for the Eagles in the sweep. 

Eagles 4 Lions 0

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Game 4: Kona Takahashi vs. Kota Futaki

The Lions offense had nearly no signs of life against Futaki while Kona Takahashi allowed several base runners. Two manufactured runs and a HR by Kota Yamaguchi made it 4-1. "Aito" Takeda had a solo HR in the second, but the Lions had their best opportunity in the 8th. With the bases loaded, Nien Ting Wu hit a two-RBI single and Aito followed that up with a three-run HR. 

Bullpens made the difference in this one as Kaima Taira and Tatsushi Masuda had no issue taking the 8th and 9th as the Lions snapped a three game skid. 

Lions 7 Marines 4

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Game 5: Syota Hamaya vs. Minabu Mima

Leonys Martin hit two HRs off Hamaya which gave the Marines an insurmountable 4-0 lead. Hamaya would only last three innings before he was pulled. Aito hit a solo HR in the 5th inning, but it wasn't enough. With the bases loaded in the 8th inning off Yuki Karakawa, Wu and Aito failed to drive in any runs to seal the game. Mima pitched seven strong innings with only two runs allowed for Chiba. 

To add injury to insult, Gakuto Wakabayashi left the game early with an injury. 

Marines 6 Lions 2

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Game 6: Katsunori Hirai vs. Shota Suzuki

Neither team could score on a traditional hit in this game. Chiba scored first on an RBI groundout with two runners on base,  but didn't muster up anymore offense. The Lions followed this with Sosuke Genda stealing two bases and later scoring on a sacrifice fly from Takeya Nakamura in the 4th. 

In the 5th inning, Ryusei Sato advanced from first to third base after a wild pitch by Suzuki and scored on a sacrifice fly from Haruka Yamada to make it 2-1. Both sides traded chances, but neither could score and even stranded the bases loaded. In the 8th, Chiba has the bases loaded with two outs,  but Kaima Taira struck out Tsuyoshi Sugano, who was caught looking on full count to end the threat.

Hirai outpitched his competition, going seven innings with eight strikeouts in giving the main relievers work for the end. The Lions took the series after a rough sweep against Rakuten. 

Lions 2 Marines 1

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It wasn't pretty, but it could've been worse. The Lions bats don't look good given the injuries and possible lack of pop. However, the pitching Kona Takahashi and Hirai remains encouraging through it all. Big thing? The Lions bullpen did something Chiba couldn't do for a game in holding a lead. Down the stretch, if things stay this way, it's an advantage. 

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2021 Seibu Lions Series Digest: Unlikely heroes put team in first place

 

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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 4-0-1 against the Hokkaido Nipppon-Ham Fighters and Softbank Hawks in a five game road trip. With no lossees for the week, they sit in first place leading the second-place Rakuten Eagles by one game. Here is who it went down. 

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Game 1: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Ryusei Kawano

Hotaka Yamakawa left the game early after injuring himself on a home run trot in the first inning. "Brandon" Tysinger made the game with his first career hit being a two-run HR in the second inning. Offense was not an issue for the Lions as Fumikazu Kimura went 4-4 and even replacement player Haruka Yamada had a timely hit. 

Matsumoto allowed three runs on 5+ innings pitched. Sho Ito needed a strikeout on Go Matsumoto to preserve an early one-run lead. This laugher was easier as the Lions bats pulled away late, allowing former Fighter Mitsuo Yoshikawa to finish the game in the 9th inning facing his old team. 

As a result of both Yamakawa and Takumi Kuriyama taken off the ichi-gun roster, Nien Ting Wu and Ryusei Sato were called up. 

Lions 11 Fighters 4

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Game 2: Tatsuya Imai vs. Hiromi Itoh

This turned out to be a pitcher's duel in scoreboard, but Imai showed grit in getting through some tough innings with five scoreless frames. His velocity was solid for his outing before Sho Ito gave up a run in the 6th. The only Lions run came off a solo HR by Wu in the 5th inning.  

While the Lions bats were non-existent, the Fighters threatened multiple times, but Tatsushi Masuda closed the door, preserving a tie in the 9th inning. 

Lions 1 Fighters 1

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Game 3: Kona Takahashi vs. Shunta Ishikawa

The Lions got to Ishikawa in the third inning with four runs, which included a three-run HR by Takeya Nakamura, his first of the season. Wu dropped a bloop into the outfield with the bases loaded to put the game away early. Kona Takahashi had another impressive outing, with only two runs allowed in eight innings for his second win of the year. 

Lions 6 Hawks 2

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Game 4: Syota Hamaya vs. Rei Takahashi

This was another game where the Lions attacked the Hawks early, which started in the first inning through a two-run timely hit by Wu. He eventually had a modasho and five RBIs in the game, leading to his first ichi-gun hero interview since 2016. 

Hamaya also had a decent outing with only one run allowed, six strikeouts in five innings of work. The Lions bullpen had minimal issue too, until the 9th when Hiroki Inoue couldn't close out the 9th inning and gave up three runs, but Tatsushi Masuda recorded the final out to take the series. 

This game didn't come without a price as Shuta Tonosaki took a pitch off the ankle and suffered a fracture. Kakeru Yamanobe was forced to come in as a replacement. 

After the game, Kento Watanabe and Ryusei Tsunashima were called up as Tonosaki was taken of the ichi-gun roster. 

Lions 7 Hawks 4

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Game 5: Katsunori Hirai vs. Tsuyoshi Wada

Wu hit a solo HR while rookie Kento Watanabe hit a two-run HR to provide just enough for the offense. Hirai lasted 5.2 innings, allowing only two runs. The Hawks loaded the bases multiple times, but Tetsu Miyagawa and Kaima Taira got important strikeouts when it counted to keep zeroes on the board for the bullpen. Reed Garrett had a 1-2-3 9th inning and the Lions swept the Hawks in Fukuoka for the first time since 2004. 

Lions 4 Hawks 2

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The injuries suck and it's unlikely Nien Ting Wu will keep up this pace. However, credit is given where it's due for nearly all phasees ths week. The Lions won on pitching and defense with a few decent hitting outings in between. Get well soon, Tonosaki. 

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