Last up is one of the last Kanto representative in Kendai Takasaki facing Tohoku representative Rifu out of Miyagi.
Kendai Takasaki went back to their calling card that worked so well for them a couple of years ago. Speed.
They would be aggressive on the basepaths and at the plate, continuously putting pressure on Iwakuni until they finally took the lead for good in the 5th.
What helps is ace Takahashi who came in relief and fired 7 strong innings striking out 9 while giving up just 2 hits and walking 1.
Rifu for most of the game was struggling against Saga Kita, scoring runs thanks to some defensive errors in the 5th, and then a timely hit by Manjyoume in the 6th. But otherwise, the offense was ineffective, and the pitching behind ace Nasuno was average at best. And against this Kendai squad, that might be a problem.
Rifu (Miyagi)
LF Manjyoume Kouta
CF Ueno Mikio
2B Hamada Keita
1B Seto Miki
C Ono Keita
RF Takeuchi Mikiya
3B Suzuki Yuuto
P Nasuno Seiya
SS Katsuramaki Kouta
Takasaki Kenkoudai Fukushi (Gunma)
CF Hirayama Takayuki
2B Hoshino Yuusuke
RF Wakimoto Naoto
1B Nagashima Ryouhei
C Tsuge Sena
LF Yamagami Takashi
3B Shibahiki Ryousuke (#15)
SS Yokomizo Takuto
P Kawai Tomoya (#11)
__________________________________________________
15:20 - First Pitch
Top 1st
Rifu's offensive struggles continue as Manjyoume and Ueno hit weak grounders for the first two outs. Hamada puts a 2-out single to left, but Seto flies out to right to end the inning.
Bottom 1st
Nasuno will have to his best to prevent runners from reaching base as that's when Kendai does their work.
Of course, with one down he walks Hoshino...
And so it begins... Hoshino takes off for 2nd, ball in dirt, no throw.
Wakimoto does his best to get on base by any means, works the count full and fouls off any close pitches.
He is completely jammed, but he hits a small looper over Nasuno! Hamada charges to the ball, but his only play is to try and fire to 3rd!
Kokuta-kantoku calling for time as it's like they didn't see this coming.
Wakimoto takes off for 2nd, throw cut off in case of double steal.
Nagashima fly to left, easily scores Hoshino. 1-0 Kendai Takasaki.
And guess what... Wakimoto steals 3rd without a throw.
Tsuge liner over Seto's outstretched glove! Wakimoto can stroll home as Tsuge has a double! 2-0 Kendai!
Tsuge steals 3rd and the throw is late. That's 4 stolen bases, and 2 steals of 3rd!
Yamagami with a drive over Manjyoume to the wall in left! Tsuge scores and it's 3-0! I'm laughing my ass off right now at how they're running circles around Rifu.
Shibahiki grounds to short to end the inning, but I think Rifu's learned the lesson that they needed to have kept the runners off the bases.
Top 2nd
Takeuchi hits a single to left with one down, and having to manufacture it the normal way, Kokuta-kantoku has Suzuki bunt the runner along.
Nasuno with a base hit back up the middle! Takeuchi being waved home! Throw from Hirayama cut off by Kawai, relay home...
OUT!!!! Tsuge with the block of the plate and the swipe tag and Rifu is denied at home!
Bottom 2nd
Even the outs are close. Yokomizo makes Suzuki rush his throw, though they make the play.
Two down, Hirayama hits a ball up the middle. Yokomizo has to rush his throw and it short hops Nagashima! It's a hustle single!
Hirayama takes off for 2nd, throw late!
He takes off for 3rd, throw... not in time! That's 6 steals now for Kendai!
Hoshino though can't get him in as he grounds to 1st for the 3rd out.
Top 3rd
Katsuramaki with a single back up the middle to leadoff the frame.
Manjyoume not bunting, and works the count full.
But he grounds to 2nd and Hoshino can go to 2nd to cut down the lead runner.
Ueno unable to bunt with one out winds up watching a slider over the plate for the 2nd out.
And Hamada makes good contact, but it's a liner right to Takeuchi for the 3rd out.
Bottom 3rd
Wakimoto with a drive to right! Takeuchi having to turn tail, sees it hit the base of the wall! He's in with a double!
Nagashima bunts him over to 3rd instead of a steal this time around. Perhaps saving energy for the RF?
SQUEEZE!
Aoyaki-kantoku tries the squeeze, but Tsuge hast to lay out just to foul it off.
No matter! With 2 strikes Tsuge just gets an old fashioned base hit through the left side to score Wakimoto! 4-0!
Yamagami fooled, but just points the bat at the ball! It's just out of the reach of Hamada and into right! Tsuge might as well just be given 3rd.
SQUEEZE!
But Shibahiki fouls it off! No go there. (Wait, they're playing Haisai Oji-san in the ouen-dan?!!)
Groudner to short! Goes to 2nd for one, NO! He's off the bag! Throw to 1st... NO! The throw pulls Seto off the bag!
Oh wow, Rifu is all messed up.
Yokomizo grounder to 2nd, throw home... Yamagami slides... but he misses the base! Ono tags him and he's out! Not sure, and I don't have an angle for it.
Kawai grounds out to 3rd to end the inning, but Rifu should be fortunate to have given up only 2 that frame.
Top 4th
Well, that's a concern. Kawai walks Seto on 4 straight, and then after a sac bunt, he walks Takeuchi on 4 straight! Ace Takahashi warming up in the bullpen.
But Kawai gets Suzuki to hit a lazy fly to left. And then Yamauchi grounds to 1st. Nagashima makes the tag and the side is retired!
Bottom 4th
One down, Hoshino gets hit by Yamauchi.
Rifu still affected by the speed of Kendai. Wakimoto grounds to 1st, Seto want to turn 2, but rushes and bobbles the ball! He has to go to 1st for the out.
Nagashima almost pokes a ball down the left field line, but it falls just foul.
Instead, it's a clean single to right and Hoshino can waltz home to a 6-0 lead!
Tsuge grounds to 3rd, and it's better for Suzuki to go the short way to 2nd for the out. 3 out, change!
Top 5th
And the more pressure Kendai puts on Rifu on defense, they have to somehow score runs on offense that they're just don't appear capable of doing.
Katsuramaki hits a chopper that Kawai snags and goes to 1st for the 1st out.
Manjyoume meanwhile gets fooled on a slider up and in for the 2nd out.
And though Ueno draws a walk, Hamada merely grounds into a fielder's choice at short to end the inning.
Bottom 5th
One down, Shibahiki grounder to left side. Katsuramaki makes diving catch, rushes throw to 1st but Shibahiki not even close to the bag! The throw is offline and he's on safely! Haha, the speed is totally in RIfu's heads!
Yokomizo with the sac bunt, but Seto and Hamada are near 1st and neither knows who's taking the bag! Hamada does, but the throw pulls him off!
#5 Nakasuji comes in to hit for Kawai but grounds into a 6-4-3 double play. That's rare.
So, needless to say Rifu is totally in stun mode and has no idea how to combat Kendai.
Top 6th
Rifu goes down in order. The offense that struggled last game is having less luck today.
Bottom 6th
Defensive change as #13 Inomata in for Seto to play 1B.
Hirayama grounder to right side, Inomata can't get it, Hamada does in the outfield grass, fires to Yamauchi for the out, just.
Hoshino tries to take 2nd, but with a lefty, can't get the same jump. Ono fires to 2nd and they just get him for the out.
They're showing the record for steals at 13 by Tosa. With a lefty on the mound and a big lead, I don't know how much they'll be trying it.
Wakimoto walks, so we'll find out.
He finally takes off on the 1-1 pitch and the throw is offline! 10 total.
A pitch goes off Ono's glove and Wakimoto takes 3rd.
And after Yamauchi walks Nagashima, Kokuta-kantoku makes a change. #11 Watanabe enters for Inomata and takes the hill. Yamauchi goes to 1B.
Tsuge with about as free a swing as you'll see splits the defense in left center. Wakimoto and Nagashima score easily and it's 8-0.
Seriously, Rifu needs a white flag.
Yamagami gives it to them with a flyout to center to end the inning.
Top 7th
Suzuki with a liner to left for a leadoff single. #15 Takahashi comes in to run for him.
AH! And he gets picked off! That just adds insult to injury.
The side gets retired in order after that and Rifu can't even buy a run at this point.
Bottom 7th
Shibahiki drive to center, Ueno running back, running back... makes the catch! Nice scramble there by Ueno!
Ah, but Watanabe hits Yokomizo.
Kendai will go to their next pitcher as #17 Kinjyou will hit for Takahashi.
Liner to center, Ueno charges... makes the shoestring catch! Yokomizo running on play and he's doubled off easily to end the inning!
Top 8th
#18 Ishige enters the game for PH Kinjyou and takes the hill. He retires the first 2 batters before Watanabe bloops one into right for a base hit.
But just 1 pitch later Ono grounds into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
Bottom 8th
#14 Oyama comes in for Takahashi to get work in at 3B.
Wakimoto collects his 3rd base hit with 2 down, lining a ball past Watanabe into center.
Wakimoto steals his 4th base, and 11th for the team.
Nagashima goes down on a ball away and drive it to deep left center. What?! They have power too? He's in with a triple! 9-0 Kendai!
And now there's a full battery change. #17 Kikuchi in for Watanabe, and #12 Gotou in for Ono.
Tsuge with one last indignity singles the first pitch into center to score the 10th run. 10-0.
Tsuge gets thrown out and for Rifu, the nightmare game is almost over.
Top 9th
#16 Mochida comes in for Yamagami to play LF, #14 Hayashi comes in for Shibahiki to play 3B, and #10 Matsuno comes in for Ishige to finish the game.
Kokuta-kantoku finished emptying the bench for Rifu. Hayashi hits for Takeuchi and grounds out to 2nd. And with 2 down #16 Abe hits for Yamauchi and grounds to short to end the game.
This was an utter dismantling of a team if I've ever seen one. It's one thing to just be dominant like say Seiryou over Kanoya Chuo. It's another to get into a team's head, break their spirit, and then crush it even more.
That's what Kendai did. They had Rifu paranoid about every play on defense. And that carried over to their already ineffective offense. Does it hurt? Of course it does. To be dominated on offense, you just shrug your shoulders and say what can you do. But when it is made so apparent, so raw... when it questions your ability as a team. That's what hurts. Kokuta-kantoku will have some work to do with some of his starters who will return for next year.
For Kendai Takasaki this is probably a statement game because back in 2011, they strayed from this strategy for 1 game and that was the game they lost. They're out to show they've learned from their mistakes and will not give in next time.
Showing posts with label Rifu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rifu. Show all posts
Monday, August 18, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Day 3, Game 3 - Saga Kita (Saga) v. Rifu (Miyagi)
(Writeup to come later)
Saga Kita (Saga)
CF Kinoshita Masato
2B Shima Kenta
1B Taniguchi Takashi
3B Morotomi Takahiro
RF Tanaka Akita
LF Koyanagi Masatoshi
C Ida Tomohiro
P Fukui Ichirou
SS Ikegami Touma
Rifu (Miyagi)
LF Manjyoume Kouta
CF Ueno Mikio
2B Hamada Keita
1B Seto Miki
C Ono Keita
RF Takeuchi Mikiya
3B Suzuki Yuuto
P Nasuno Seiya
SS Katsuramaki Kouta
____________________________________________________________
13:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Nasuno not a hard thrower by any means, yet he freezes Kinoshita with a slider on the outside corner.
Kenta hits a ball right to short, but Katsuramaki rushes the throw and it takes Taniguchi off the bag. E6.
Yet Nasuno continues to locate the ball well as Taniguchi is left watching a fastball hit the inside corner for another K.
Morotomi weakly grounds to first, but Nasuno off to a good start.
Bottom 1st
One out, Yokoo hits Ueno and Kokuta-kantoku actually calls for the bunt. That's curious given their offensive numbers...
Seto winds up popping out to Kenta to end the inning. So are we expecting another low scoring game?
Top 2nd
Tanaka gets Kitakou's first it with a clean single through the left side. Koyanagi tries to bunt him along, but Nansuno quickly gets tot he ball and fires to 2nd! He gets Tanaka for the force, 1 down!
It's a hit-and-run! Momozaki-kantoku calls for it as Ida hits the ball to 1st! Seto goes to the bag, but Koyanagi is busting his way to 3rd, and gets no throw! Heads up play by Koyanagi!
But it all goes for naught when Nasuno gets Yokoo to chase an outside fastball for strike 3!
Bottom 2nd
Rifu's Ono gets their own leadoff runner with a clean single also through the left side. Takeuchi goes to 2 strikes trying to bunt, but lays it down and advances the runner for Suzuki.
He takes the ball the other way on a groundout, and at least advances the runner to 3rd.
I notice that Yokoo's pitches aren't fast either. He's in the mid 120s. Which means its a battle of attrition to see whose control breaks down first, though Kitakou does have their other "ace".
WHAT???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yokoo fires a throw home, and Ono is thrown out! 3 out, but even more important - they were trying a straight steal of home!!! I have not seen that tried in my years watching. That takes a lot of balls to call for that play. It far from worked, but it means that Rifu has more tricks up their sleeve.
Top 3rd
Last batter Ikegami with a liner to center for a leadoff single. He's bunted over as expected by Kinoshita. And on Keita's fly to deep right center he tags up to 3rd.
Liner! But right at Suzuki and the side is retired!
Bottom 3rd
Nasuno line shot past a diving Morotomi and down the line! He's in with a leadoff double! Katsuramaki with a great bunt to move the runner over.
Manjyoume thinks he has ball 4 on a full count pitch outside, but no! He's rung up and there's 2 out!
Ueno grounds out to Taniguchi and we're scoreless through 3!
Top 4th
One down, Tanaka takes a very high pitch and manages to line it over Suzuki for a base hit. He's bunted to 2nd to try for a one-timer bu Ida.
But he flies out to Takeuchi, who easily snags it and we're still deadlocked at 0.
Bottom 4th
Rifu is having a devil of a time getting the bat square on Yokoo's pitches. Hamada and Seto with easy pop flies before Ono (one of the only one hitting), lining a single to left.
Takeuchi flies out to right, and we're just flying through the innings here with neither team really getting anything going.
Top 5th
What's this? Rifu is taking a page out of Saga Kita's book! Nasuno is out of the game and in comes lefty Yamauchi!
And boy are Kitakou's batters all turned about. Yokoo hits a swinging bunt that Ono fields, Ikegami tries the push bunt, but Yamauchi corrects and makes the play, and Kinoshita just hits it right back to him for the 3rd out!
Bottom 5th
Suzuki manages to bloop one into right center for a base hit. But Yamauchi's bunt attempt is too hard and Morotomi throws Suzuki out at 2nd!
Katsuramaki lays down another but and moves the runner over, but with 2 out now.
Manjyoume with a drive to left center! Kinoshita, who was shifted over to the right, goes on a dead sprint to left center! Puts the glove up...
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He overran it and it falls in behind him! Yamauchi scores and Rifu has the 1-0 lead!
Ueno with a looper, Kenta leaps, but it's over his head! Manjyoume scores and Rifu leads 2-0!
Hamada with a single to left center! Ueno takes 3rd on the play and Yokoo is getting roughed up!
And he knows what's next. #1 Fukui comes in to relieve him on the mound.
What's this?! Rifu is PH their cleanup batter! #16 Abe Kouya comes in to hit for Seto! Not sure what's going on here, but Kokuta-kantoku must know something.
However, Abe flies out to center, ending the inning. Yokoo gets roughed up before the break and now Saga Kita is chasing 2 heading into the break.
Top 6th
#13 Inomata in for PH Abe and takes over at 1B.
Kenta made to look like a ballerina they way he twirled swinging at a pitch way outside
Taniguchi though revenges him with a single to left. And now Yamauchi hits Morotomi! Kokuta-kantoku calls time.
STEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taniguchi gets a great jump and the throw goes to 3rd, but not in time! It's a double steal and the douten runner is in scoring position!
Tanaka meanwhile is fouling every conceivable pitch, even some almost on the ground!
All that so he can hit it right to Katsuramaki! He looks home, but takes the sure out at 1st! Saga Kita is on the board at 2-1, and now the douten run is 90 feet away!
Momozaki-kantoku pulls his own trump card, sending in #13 Matsuo to hit for Koyanagi.
And he drives a ball to deep right center! Ueno reaches up, but it's over their heads! Morotomi scores on the PH RBI double and we're all square at 2-2!!
Ida strikes out to end the inning, but we have a new ball game!
Bottom 6th
Matsuo stays in the game to play LF.
Fukui throwing much more gas than Yokoo, and counters that with a very slow curve. Ono can't catch up to the high 130s fastball and goes down swinging.
Takeuchi hits a chopper to the right side, but Taniguchi doesn't pick the ball cleanly and that allows Takeuchi to reach safely!
Suzuki showing bunt, but doesn't even offer on a single pitch, instead drawing a 4-pitch walk!
Yamauchi showing bunt, and the curve is outside for ball 1. Momozaki-kantoku sees something to call time.
Another bunt shown, but another ball taken. Is Rifu trying to bait Fukui into throwing non-strikes? Well, he gets a curve across for a strike, so it's 2-1. But another ball and it's 3-1! I think they're baiting him!
Fastball inside gets the strike call, and the count is full.
Fukui calls Rifu's bluff, but he lays down the bunt and the runners advance!
But now Fukui is just having trouble throwing a strike! He's behind Katsuramaki 2-0 before he pumps in a fastball. Still the count goes 3-1and it's ball 4! The ball gets away from Ida, but the runners don't advance. Manrui for leadoff batter Manjyoume!
Fukui going explicitly away to start, and Manjyoume has the right idea booming a ball foul to the left side.
Manjyoume liner up the middle! Takeuchi scores! Suzuki being waved around... the throw is high and Suzuki scores! Manjyoume comes through again and Rifu again leads 4-2, and still threatening!
Ueno strikes out looking to end the inning, but Rifu fires right back and retakes their 2-run lead!
Top 7th
Rifu going to their bullpen again, this time sending out #11 Watanabe to take the hill.
After a quick flyout by Fukui, he ends up walking Ikegami.
None of the pitchers are overpowering, they're just another arm it seems.
Kinoshita with a comebacker to Watanabe! 2nd for 1, throw by Katsuramaki in time for the double play!
Bottom 7th
Hamada grounder to short, but Ikegami stumbles! That allows Hamada to reach safely!
Inomata showing bunt throughout the entire AB, but winds up striking out looking. Odd.
Ono actually bunts the runner along to 2nd. But Takeuchi grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 8th
Katsuramaki with a great pick on a short hop by Kenta. Throws to 1st, 1 down.
Watanabe falls behind Taniguchi 3-0 and he lines a ball down the 3rd base line for a double! Kokuta-kanoku decides to call time.
Morotomi also playing the attrition game, fouling off pitches until he can find something he likes... but this time he strikes out swinging. The ball is the dirt however, and that allows Taniguchi to take 3rd on the play.
Tanaka up to try and cut into the deficit.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!! He chases the slider away and like Morotomi goes down swinging! Saga Kita is denied and they'll be down to their final 3 outs!
Bottom 8th
Suzuki with a base hit to right center, and he cruises in with a leadoff double! He's bunted to 3rd for Katsuramaki.
He's showing bunt, but can't seem to put it into play. Count goes to 2-2, and he tries it! But it goes foul and he's out!
That brings up Manjyoume, but with 2 bases open, I don't think they're going to pitch to him. And all the pitches are borderline at best as the count goes to 3-0... and ball 4.
And up 0-2 on Ueno, Fukui plunks him! It's manrui for Rifu with Hamada up to bat!
Hamada just waiting for now, and Fukui misses on his first 2 pitches before getting a fastball over for a strike.
But Fukui gets Hamada to bounce one up the line right to Taniguchi who goes to the bag for the 3rd out. No damage done, but Saga Kita needs 2 to stay alive!
Top 9th
Takahashi stays in the game to play 3B.
Matsuo once again comes through with a blooper over Hamada's head for a leadoff single! But Ida swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Katsuramaki under it for the first out.
Captain #10 Shima Ryuutarou comes in to hit for Fukui, but too pops it up. Suzuki under it in shallow left for the 2nd out.
It's up to Ikegami... and he lines a single to left! Douten runner is on for Kitakou! And we're back to the top of the order and Kinoshita!
I don't know if Watanabe is trying to nibble, but he's fallen behind Kinoshita 3-1... and walks him!! The sayonara runner is on base!
(And of course, the announcers are bringing parallels of the game 7 years ago)
Kenta grounder to short! Katsuramaki throws to 1st... OUT!
Kenta slams the helmet into the ground as Rifu advanes with a 4-2 win!
I won't belabor the point about the head-sliding into first, but I'd keep that in mind for the last play. Saga Kita's magic of 7 years ago unfortunately doesn't carry over as they fall just short.
Saga Kita certainly had their chances late against the Rifu bullpen, but were not able to capitalize after the 2-run 6th. And unfortunately for them, both pitchers had 1 bad inning that combined cost them the game. I don't know if they were the first ones to win using a pitching tandem, but I think they showed that it could be done. Unfortunately, it didn't work out this year.
As for Rifu, they manage to advance, but the pitching staff past Nasuno looks a bit shaky, and the offense is a bit more inconsistent than I was expecting. It'll take a little more work for them to continue and advance.
Notable Players
Nasuno Seiya (Rifu) - 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 3 K
Manjyoume Kouta (Rifu) - 2-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI, BB
Suzuki Yuuto (Rifu) - 2-3, 2B, R
Matsuo Naoki (Saga Kita) - 2-2, 2B, RBI
Taniguchi Takashi (Saga Kita) - 2-4, 2B, R, SB
Saga Kita (Saga)
CF Kinoshita Masato
2B Shima Kenta
1B Taniguchi Takashi
3B Morotomi Takahiro
RF Tanaka Akita
LF Koyanagi Masatoshi
C Ida Tomohiro
P Fukui Ichirou
SS Ikegami Touma
Rifu (Miyagi)
LF Manjyoume Kouta
CF Ueno Mikio
2B Hamada Keita
1B Seto Miki
C Ono Keita
RF Takeuchi Mikiya
3B Suzuki Yuuto
P Nasuno Seiya
SS Katsuramaki Kouta
____________________________________________________________
13:30 - First Pitch!
Top 1st
Nasuno not a hard thrower by any means, yet he freezes Kinoshita with a slider on the outside corner.
Kenta hits a ball right to short, but Katsuramaki rushes the throw and it takes Taniguchi off the bag. E6.
Yet Nasuno continues to locate the ball well as Taniguchi is left watching a fastball hit the inside corner for another K.
Morotomi weakly grounds to first, but Nasuno off to a good start.
Bottom 1st
One out, Yokoo hits Ueno and Kokuta-kantoku actually calls for the bunt. That's curious given their offensive numbers...
Seto winds up popping out to Kenta to end the inning. So are we expecting another low scoring game?
Top 2nd
Tanaka gets Kitakou's first it with a clean single through the left side. Koyanagi tries to bunt him along, but Nansuno quickly gets tot he ball and fires to 2nd! He gets Tanaka for the force, 1 down!
It's a hit-and-run! Momozaki-kantoku calls for it as Ida hits the ball to 1st! Seto goes to the bag, but Koyanagi is busting his way to 3rd, and gets no throw! Heads up play by Koyanagi!
But it all goes for naught when Nasuno gets Yokoo to chase an outside fastball for strike 3!
Bottom 2nd
Rifu's Ono gets their own leadoff runner with a clean single also through the left side. Takeuchi goes to 2 strikes trying to bunt, but lays it down and advances the runner for Suzuki.
He takes the ball the other way on a groundout, and at least advances the runner to 3rd.
I notice that Yokoo's pitches aren't fast either. He's in the mid 120s. Which means its a battle of attrition to see whose control breaks down first, though Kitakou does have their other "ace".
WHAT???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yokoo fires a throw home, and Ono is thrown out! 3 out, but even more important - they were trying a straight steal of home!!! I have not seen that tried in my years watching. That takes a lot of balls to call for that play. It far from worked, but it means that Rifu has more tricks up their sleeve.
Top 3rd
Last batter Ikegami with a liner to center for a leadoff single. He's bunted over as expected by Kinoshita. And on Keita's fly to deep right center he tags up to 3rd.
Liner! But right at Suzuki and the side is retired!
Bottom 3rd
Nasuno line shot past a diving Morotomi and down the line! He's in with a leadoff double! Katsuramaki with a great bunt to move the runner over.
Manjyoume thinks he has ball 4 on a full count pitch outside, but no! He's rung up and there's 2 out!
Ueno grounds out to Taniguchi and we're scoreless through 3!
Top 4th
One down, Tanaka takes a very high pitch and manages to line it over Suzuki for a base hit. He's bunted to 2nd to try for a one-timer bu Ida.
But he flies out to Takeuchi, who easily snags it and we're still deadlocked at 0.
Bottom 4th
Rifu is having a devil of a time getting the bat square on Yokoo's pitches. Hamada and Seto with easy pop flies before Ono (one of the only one hitting), lining a single to left.
Takeuchi flies out to right, and we're just flying through the innings here with neither team really getting anything going.
Top 5th
What's this? Rifu is taking a page out of Saga Kita's book! Nasuno is out of the game and in comes lefty Yamauchi!
And boy are Kitakou's batters all turned about. Yokoo hits a swinging bunt that Ono fields, Ikegami tries the push bunt, but Yamauchi corrects and makes the play, and Kinoshita just hits it right back to him for the 3rd out!
Bottom 5th
Suzuki manages to bloop one into right center for a base hit. But Yamauchi's bunt attempt is too hard and Morotomi throws Suzuki out at 2nd!
Katsuramaki lays down another but and moves the runner over, but with 2 out now.
Manjyoume with a drive to left center! Kinoshita, who was shifted over to the right, goes on a dead sprint to left center! Puts the glove up...
AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He overran it and it falls in behind him! Yamauchi scores and Rifu has the 1-0 lead!
Ueno with a looper, Kenta leaps, but it's over his head! Manjyoume scores and Rifu leads 2-0!
Hamada with a single to left center! Ueno takes 3rd on the play and Yokoo is getting roughed up!
And he knows what's next. #1 Fukui comes in to relieve him on the mound.
What's this?! Rifu is PH their cleanup batter! #16 Abe Kouya comes in to hit for Seto! Not sure what's going on here, but Kokuta-kantoku must know something.
However, Abe flies out to center, ending the inning. Yokoo gets roughed up before the break and now Saga Kita is chasing 2 heading into the break.
Top 6th
#13 Inomata in for PH Abe and takes over at 1B.
Kenta made to look like a ballerina they way he twirled swinging at a pitch way outside
Taniguchi though revenges him with a single to left. And now Yamauchi hits Morotomi! Kokuta-kantoku calls time.
STEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Taniguchi gets a great jump and the throw goes to 3rd, but not in time! It's a double steal and the douten runner is in scoring position!
Tanaka meanwhile is fouling every conceivable pitch, even some almost on the ground!
All that so he can hit it right to Katsuramaki! He looks home, but takes the sure out at 1st! Saga Kita is on the board at 2-1, and now the douten run is 90 feet away!
Momozaki-kantoku pulls his own trump card, sending in #13 Matsuo to hit for Koyanagi.
And he drives a ball to deep right center! Ueno reaches up, but it's over their heads! Morotomi scores on the PH RBI double and we're all square at 2-2!!
Ida strikes out to end the inning, but we have a new ball game!
Bottom 6th
Matsuo stays in the game to play LF.
Fukui throwing much more gas than Yokoo, and counters that with a very slow curve. Ono can't catch up to the high 130s fastball and goes down swinging.
Takeuchi hits a chopper to the right side, but Taniguchi doesn't pick the ball cleanly and that allows Takeuchi to reach safely!
Suzuki showing bunt, but doesn't even offer on a single pitch, instead drawing a 4-pitch walk!
Yamauchi showing bunt, and the curve is outside for ball 1. Momozaki-kantoku sees something to call time.
Another bunt shown, but another ball taken. Is Rifu trying to bait Fukui into throwing non-strikes? Well, he gets a curve across for a strike, so it's 2-1. But another ball and it's 3-1! I think they're baiting him!
Fastball inside gets the strike call, and the count is full.
Fukui calls Rifu's bluff, but he lays down the bunt and the runners advance!
But now Fukui is just having trouble throwing a strike! He's behind Katsuramaki 2-0 before he pumps in a fastball. Still the count goes 3-1and it's ball 4! The ball gets away from Ida, but the runners don't advance. Manrui for leadoff batter Manjyoume!
Fukui going explicitly away to start, and Manjyoume has the right idea booming a ball foul to the left side.
Manjyoume liner up the middle! Takeuchi scores! Suzuki being waved around... the throw is high and Suzuki scores! Manjyoume comes through again and Rifu again leads 4-2, and still threatening!
Ueno strikes out looking to end the inning, but Rifu fires right back and retakes their 2-run lead!
Top 7th
Rifu going to their bullpen again, this time sending out #11 Watanabe to take the hill.
After a quick flyout by Fukui, he ends up walking Ikegami.
None of the pitchers are overpowering, they're just another arm it seems.
Kinoshita with a comebacker to Watanabe! 2nd for 1, throw by Katsuramaki in time for the double play!
Bottom 7th
Hamada grounder to short, but Ikegami stumbles! That allows Hamada to reach safely!
Inomata showing bunt throughout the entire AB, but winds up striking out looking. Odd.
Ono actually bunts the runner along to 2nd. But Takeuchi grounds out to 2nd to end the inning.
Top 8th
Katsuramaki with a great pick on a short hop by Kenta. Throws to 1st, 1 down.
Watanabe falls behind Taniguchi 3-0 and he lines a ball down the 3rd base line for a double! Kokuta-kanoku decides to call time.
Morotomi also playing the attrition game, fouling off pitches until he can find something he likes... but this time he strikes out swinging. The ball is the dirt however, and that allows Taniguchi to take 3rd on the play.
Tanaka up to try and cut into the deficit.
SANSHIN!!!!!!!!!! He chases the slider away and like Morotomi goes down swinging! Saga Kita is denied and they'll be down to their final 3 outs!
Bottom 8th
Suzuki with a base hit to right center, and he cruises in with a leadoff double! He's bunted to 3rd for Katsuramaki.
He's showing bunt, but can't seem to put it into play. Count goes to 2-2, and he tries it! But it goes foul and he's out!
That brings up Manjyoume, but with 2 bases open, I don't think they're going to pitch to him. And all the pitches are borderline at best as the count goes to 3-0... and ball 4.
And up 0-2 on Ueno, Fukui plunks him! It's manrui for Rifu with Hamada up to bat!
Hamada just waiting for now, and Fukui misses on his first 2 pitches before getting a fastball over for a strike.
But Fukui gets Hamada to bounce one up the line right to Taniguchi who goes to the bag for the 3rd out. No damage done, but Saga Kita needs 2 to stay alive!
Top 9th
Takahashi stays in the game to play 3B.
Matsuo once again comes through with a blooper over Hamada's head for a leadoff single! But Ida swings on the first pitch and pops it up! Katsuramaki under it for the first out.
Captain #10 Shima Ryuutarou comes in to hit for Fukui, but too pops it up. Suzuki under it in shallow left for the 2nd out.
It's up to Ikegami... and he lines a single to left! Douten runner is on for Kitakou! And we're back to the top of the order and Kinoshita!
I don't know if Watanabe is trying to nibble, but he's fallen behind Kinoshita 3-1... and walks him!! The sayonara runner is on base!
(And of course, the announcers are bringing parallels of the game 7 years ago)
Kenta grounder to short! Katsuramaki throws to 1st... OUT!
Kenta slams the helmet into the ground as Rifu advanes with a 4-2 win!
I won't belabor the point about the head-sliding into first, but I'd keep that in mind for the last play. Saga Kita's magic of 7 years ago unfortunately doesn't carry over as they fall just short.
Saga Kita certainly had their chances late against the Rifu bullpen, but were not able to capitalize after the 2-run 6th. And unfortunately for them, both pitchers had 1 bad inning that combined cost them the game. I don't know if they were the first ones to win using a pitching tandem, but I think they showed that it could be done. Unfortunately, it didn't work out this year.
As for Rifu, they manage to advance, but the pitching staff past Nasuno looks a bit shaky, and the offense is a bit more inconsistent than I was expecting. It'll take a little more work for them to continue and advance.
Notable Players
Nasuno Seiya (Rifu) - 4 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 3 K
Manjyoume Kouta (Rifu) - 2-4, 3B, R, 3 RBI, BB
Suzuki Yuuto (Rifu) - 2-3, 2B, R
Matsuo Naoki (Saga Kita) - 2-2, 2B, RBI
Taniguchi Takashi (Saga Kita) - 2-4, 2B, R, SB
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