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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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