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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 2-2-2 against the Orix Buffaloes and Softbank Hawks. With no winning week, the Lions sit in fourth place 1.5 games out of A-class behind the Marines.
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Game 1: Matt Dermody vs. Hiroya Miyagi
Dermody went five scoreless innings and allowed a combined five hits, three walks with three strikeouts, but the Lions failed to give him runs support with Miyagi continuing his dominance of the Lions. With a scoreless game in the top of the 6th, Tetsu Miyagawa gave up a three-run HR to Yuma Tongu and it was a lead Orix wouldn't give up.
The Lions looked like they were chipping away at the lead in the 7th with two runs and Nien Ting Wu looked like he hit a double on the LF line while the bases were loaded. However, it was ruled a foul ball even after a request and he struck out shortly after. Haruka Yamada couldn't get a base hit with Motoki Higa pitching the last out and the game was all but over. Ryosuke Moriwaki made his first 2021 ichi-gun appearance and gave up a three-run HR to Yuma Mune to seal any chance of a comeback. It was the fourth straight loss against Orix.
Buffaloes 6 Lions 3
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Game 2: Towa Uema vs. Daichi Takeyasu
Uema gave up three runs through four innings, including a solo HR to Masataka Yoshida. For the Lions, the offense wasn't all bad with "Aito" Takeda having three RBIs and two hits. With both starters not lasting long, it was a reliever game where the Lions looked like they had an upperhand leading 6-4 in the 7th inning after Takumi Kuriyama had a timely infield single.
However, a combination of Miyagawa allowing a leadoff runner on base to Stefen Romero hitting a two-run HR off Ryuya Ogawa tied the game. Chances were blown on both sides as Cory Spangenberg struck out in the 8th. Reed Garrett appeared to have injured his leg with a ball striking him, leaving Moriwaki in a bases loaded jam, but he got a 3-2-3 double play to secure a tie. Sosuke Genda had a chance for one last gasp, but grounded out with a runner on third base to have a draw.
Lions 6 Buffaloes 6
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Game 3: Tatsuya Imai vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Imai was able to go 7.2 innings with Kaima Taira finishing the last 1.1 in a team effort win. Sosuke Genda had a modasho while Tomoya Mori hit a two-run HR. Taira recorded his first save of the season when finishing the game as Imai won his second consecutive decision.
Lions 6 Buffaloes 2
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Game 4: Kona Takahashi vs. Shunta Ishikawa
Ishikawa was dominant against the Lions by going eight innings with eight strikeouts. It didn't look like the Lions would score after wasting a bases-loaded, no out chance in the third inning. The Hawks scored on a double play groundout as well as a solo HR from Ukyo Shuuto to make it 2-0. Takahashi went seven frames with only the HR as the earned run.
Hotaka Yamakawa hit a solo HR in his first ichi-gun game back from injury and it proved to be critical. Takumi Kuriyama followed up in the 7th with a solo HR and the game was tied. In the bottom of the 8th, the Hawks loaded the bases with one out and Kenji Akashi pinch hitting. But he hit liner to Sosuke Genda and the runner at third was doubled up for a 6-5 double play.
Reed Garrett finished the game in the 9th and the Lions were able to salvage a draw in a game they struggled with offensively.
Lions 2 Hawks 2
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Game 5: Wataru Matsumoto vs. Nick Martinez
Matsumoto pitched a gem with six shutout frames with five strikeouts and five hits allowed. The Lions scored early on a timely hit from Kuriyama, but a strong throw from Yuki Yanagita prevented another from coming. It wasn't until the 6th inning when Aito had a double off the wall for the second run of the game. Ryosuke Moriwaki took the 7th while Kaima Taira struck out Takuya Kai with two runners on base.
Reed Garrett created the ultimate drama when he walked three batters to load the bases. However, he got Yanagita to ground out and keep the Hawks off the board for only his second save of the season, both were in Fukuoka.
Lions 2 Hawks 0
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Game 6: Katsunori Hirai vs. Yuki Matsumoto
The Lions only scored once in the first inning on an RBI groundout from Kuriyama. Hirai went six innings with nine strikeouts and one run allowed on a sacrifice fly from Takuya Kai in the 6th. In the 7th, Shota Takekuma allowed a runner and Ryuya Ogawa failed to get Yuki Yanagita out for the game-losing run. Akashi added another timely hit in the 8th off Ken Togame for insurance as the Lions bats were no threat.
Hawks 3 Lions 1
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It's better to draw than lose, but it's tough to think this team can be a playoff squad with the lack of offense. Surprisingly they did alright without Tatsushi Masuda, who was taken off the ichi-gun roster before the games began. Just have to hope Kuriyama can keep hitting to get to 2,000.
Otherwise, let's hope Matt Dermody has a set of strong outings this month.
I also wanted to take the time to let everyone know the rest of the this month will be a vacation one. Will not return until the end of May. Planning to go East with what's missing.
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