Cleveland Sports Forum

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012

Tateyama, Balentien help Swallows tie CL Climax Series' first stage

Kyodo

NAGOYA —

Right-hander Shohei Tateyama worked six innings on Sunday, and Central League home run champ Wladimir Balentien drove in the game's only run as the Yakult Swallows evened the first stage of the CL Climax Series with a 1-0 defeat of the Chunichi Dragons.

The Dragons, who finished second in the CL this season, only need to tie Monday's Game 3 to advance to the final stage against the league champion Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome starting on Wednesday. The third-place Swallows can only advance with a win.

Tateyama allowed four hits and four walks, with three of the free passes coming in the bottom of the fourth, moments after Balentien hit his second homer of the series, off Dragons right-hander Soma Yamauchi.

With one out, Tateyama issued back-to-back walks to cleanup hitter Tony Blanco and Game 1 hero Kazuhiro Wada. After a groundout advanced the runners, Tateyama walked No. 7 hitter Takehiro Donoue to face Motonobu Tanishige.

The 41-year-old catcher struck out in a 10-pitch at-bat to leave the bases loaded.

"Because he's a veteran, it was a case of our both being able to read each other's intention," Tateyama said of Tanishige. "All I could do was keep attacking him. Eventually, I got one past him."

Tateyama got his final out of the afternoon when Tanishige flied out in a seven-pitch at-bat with two men on.

Swallows closer Tony Barnette entered in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced to earn the save.

Dragons leadoff man Yohei Oshima, who went 3-for-5 in Chunichi's 6-1 win on Saturday, went 4-for-4 on Sunday, collecting all but one of the hosts' hits.

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012

Kishi gives Takeda a lesson in playoff baseball

By JASON COSKREY

TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. —

Shota Takeda has all kinds of talent. At the tender age of 19, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks right-hander made 11 starts this season, winning eight and finishing the year with a 1.08 ERA.

Hear me roar: Former Japan Series MVP Takayuki Kishi helped the Lions avoid elimination on Sunday. KYODO


It could probably be said that Takeda has more raw talent than the Seibu Lions' Takayuki Kishi, the pitcher he opposed on Sunday at Seibu Dome. Kishi, however, is a veteran of six seasons and a former Japan Series MVP.

Talent can take you many places, but sometimes winning comes with experience.

The prodigious talent Takeda failed badly in his first postseason appearance, giving up five runs — four earned — and lasting just 2 1/3 innings in the Hawks' 8-0 loss to the Lions in Game 2 of the Pacific League Climax Series first stage.

"He's in his first year out of high school and doesn't have experience on a big stage like this," Lions shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima said. "I think that affected him."

Takeda, the first rookie to start a Climax Series game after being drafted out of high school, walked three batters in the third inning, which in turn helped lead to a seven-run Seibu outburst that Hawks wouldn't recover from.

"Our batters tried to study his pitches, draw walks, and put pressure on him," Lions manager Hisanobu Watanabe said. "Takeda is a young pitcher, and we got to him nicely."

Kishi, on the other hand, got himself in trouble early, but was able to work through it.

He gave up a one-out double to Yuya Hasegawa and a single to Seiichi Uchikawa to put runners on first and third in the opening frame. He threw three balls to cleanup hitter Wily Mo Pena before finally retiring him and struck out Nobuhiro Matsuda to end the inning.

"We were in a pinch in the first, but Kishi was patient and managed to get out of it," Watanabe said. "It was big that we didn't give up a run there.

"When our starting pitchers allow opponents to get on the board first, we have a higher tendency to lose, so it was really huge."

Kishi was given a big lead to work with after the Lions put up seven in the third, but worked hard to maintain his focus.

"I was a little relieved," he said of the run support, "but tried to stay balanced and and focus on what I needed to do on the mound. The thing is, no matter how big of a lead you get, you don't want to give up any runs."

Growing pains: Hawks rookie Shota Takeda had a roughing outing in his first postseason start. KYODO

That may have been the difference between the two starters on Sunday. Takeda burst out of the gates, all smiles and bluster, and got off to a good start. He couldn't maintain that pace and once things went south, he couldn't stop his outing from falling apart.

Kishi on the other hand, kept his cool, relied on his experience, and paced himself from the beginning.

He wasn't fazed when he got into trouble, even though he had reason to be. Kishi had finished 1-3 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts against Softbank during the regular season, and was coming off a dismal September that saw him go 0-3 with a 3.21 ERA in five starts.

"Today's not the last game we play, but I'm relieved I could give us a chance to win," Kishi said afterward.

Once he'd pitched his way into trouble, there was no panic. Kishi simply made the pitches he needed to make and reaped the rewards when his offense gave him a big lead.

For all his talent, Takeda didn't have what it took to overcome adversity in the biggest game of his young career. Kishi gave him a crash course on how to win in October, and because of that, the Lions will live on to roar another day.

Monday, Oct. 15, 2012

Lions rout Hawks to even series

By JASON COSKREY

TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. —

A number of Seibu Lions fans spent their time outside Seibu Dome looking into a television camera and imploring their team to get a win. The Lions' players weren't quite ready for the season to end yet either.

Pitcher Takayuki Kishi (left) and shortstop Hiroyuku Nakajima wave to the crowd after the Lions' 8-0 win on Sunday at Seibu Dome. KYODO

In the end, everybody got what they wanted. Well, maybe not the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.

The Lions broke open a scoreless affair in a seven-run third inning and never looked back, staving off elimination with an 8-0 win over the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Game 2 of the Pacific League Climax Series first stage on Sunday afternoon at Seibu Dome.

"We were fortunate to win, but it won't mean anything if we drop tomorrow's game," Lions shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima said. "We definitely want to win."

The victory evens the series at 1-1. The teams will meet in a decisive third game Monday, with the winner advancing to face the PL champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in the final stage. As the higher seed, Seibu would advance in the event of a tie.

Nearly everyone chipped in for the Lions. Eight of Seibu's nine starters finished with a hit, and all but three recorded an RBI.

The Lions' Yutaro Osaki finished 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, and Ginjiro Sumitani had two hits and drove in a run.

Lions starter Takayuki Kishi got off to a shaky start, putting runners on the corners with one out in the first, but with all the run support behind him it didn't matter.

"I was only trying to get out of it without giving up any runs," Kishi said. "Overall, my fastball felt good, and my curves were good as well."

Kishi allowed six hits and struck out eight without walking a batter over six scoreless innings.

Hawks rookie Shota Takeda had a much rougher time on the mound. The 19-year-old rookie got off to a good start, but his command failed him in the third. Struggling to hit his spots, he helped set the stage for the Lions' big inning before being pulled out of the game.

Takeda took the loss and was charged with five runs — four earned — on two hits. He walked four and struck out three.

"Overall I was pressing," Takeda said. "I didn't have the inner strength and things got worse as I went. Since I was given the task of starting such an important game, and couldn't keep us in the game, I feel sorry for the team. I'm so frustrated."

Seibu batted around in the third, and had eight of its nine starters get on base during the frame.

Sumitani walked to begin the inning, and Takuya Hara moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. Sumitani took third on a passed ball, and Hideto Asamura drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Shogo Akiyama drove in the first run of the game with a single, and Nakajima doubled to make the score 2-0.

"I'd watched his (Takeda's) fastball and watched him throw sliders against other batters," Nakajima said. "So I'd seen his pitches and tried not to chase one that would be difficult to hit."

Takeya Nakamura drew a walk to load the bases, and Jose Ortiz followed with an RBI single to left. Esteban German struck out for the second out of the inning, but Osaki plated a pair with a double to right.

Sumitani stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning and hit an RBI single to make the score 6-0. The Lions then executed a double-steal, with Osaki swiping home, before Sumitani was thrown out at the plate while trying to score on a single by Hara.

Nakamura added to the lead with an RBI single in the fourth.

The Hawks will send lefty Kenji Otonari (12-8) to the mound to start Game 3. Kazuhisa Ishii (10-5) is scheduled to toe the rubber for the Lions.

Monday, October 15, 2012

2012 NPB Playoffs started

Climax Series open postseason play in Nippon Professional Baseball

The regular season in Nippon Professional Baseball has been concluded and the postseason got underway this weekend. The Yomiuri Giants and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters won the regular season titles in the Central and Pacific Leagues.

In the first round of postseason play, in the first stage of the Climax Series, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows take on the Chunichi Dragons and the Saitama Seibu Lions take on the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. The Yomiuri Giants and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters have byes.

Following these best-of-three series the winners will face the Yomiuri Giants and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in the final stage of the Climax Series, determining the Nippon Series participants. The championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball will start on Saturday, October 27.

What's Spanish for stiffs?

There are a few players that I like. Still time for them to succeed. Tim Fedroff, Toru Murata, Danny Salazar, and possibly Jesus Aguilar.

Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012
Pena comes good to send Hawks into next round

By JASON COSKREY

TOKOROZAWA, Saitama Pref. —

Wily Mo Pena said he couldn't remember the last time he was in an elimination game.

Give me some Mo: Fukuoka Softbank's Willy Mo Pena salutes the crowd after hitting a two-run double in the fourth inning on Monday. KYODO

He'll have a hard time forgetting this one.

Pena hit a two-run double in the fourth inning, Seiichi Uchikawa added an insurance run in the eighth, and the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks won the Pacific League Climax Series first stage with a 3-2 victory over the Seibu Lions in Game 3 on Monday night at Seibu Dome.

"I was trying to help my team," Pena said. "In my first two games, I didn't get a hit. That's why I was trying to stay positive and just help our team.

"We've got to take the next step. We had to play these games first, and now we have to move on to the next stage and try to get back to the championship like we did last year."

The defending Japan Series champions advanced to the final stage of the climax series with the win. They'll face the PL champion Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Sapporo for the right to represent the PL in the Japan Series.

"We played the way we played throughout the season," said Hawks infielder Yuichi Honda. "That will be the key for us, to play like that in Sapporo."

Softbank will have to hit the ground running as the Fighters will have an automatic 1-0 advantage in the series as the league champions.

"We play one game at a time, and now we have advanced and can finally think of the next challenge," Hawks manager Koji Akiyama said. "That's how you have to operate in this business."

Pena had been hitless in the first two games and, after a flyout to center in the second inning was 0-for-9 in the series before ripping his two-run double to left.

"I will thank the manager for the rest of my life," Pena said. "I told him it was going to be different. He believed in me and that's what happens when you believe in somebody. It will pay off."

The Hawks were sitting pretty after Uchikawa made the score 3-1 with an RBI single in the top of the eighth.

"I'm so exhausted," Uchikawa said. "We were desperate to get another run, so I put all of my pent-up energy from this year into that hit. It was a huge hit for us."

The Hawks may have given themselves some breathing room, but the Lions weren't going to let them off the hook that easily.

With runners on first and second with two outs, PL home run leader Takeya Nakamura pounced on a slider from reliever Masahiko Morifuku and hit a ball toward the spot where his solo homer in the fourth cleared the wall.

For a moment it looked as if Nakamura had turned the tide of the game with a go-ahead three-run home run, but Ryuma Kidokoro made the catch a few steps in front of the center-field wall to end the inning.

Lions infielder, and former Hawks player, Jose Ortiz hit a solo shot off Hideki Okajima to lead off the ninth to cut the lead to one run. Okajima retired the next three batters to end the game.

"That one run really hurt us," Lions manager Hisanobu Watanabe said. "We wanted to prevent that. But our players went all out and played such a great game.

"In a short series, you can't give your opponent a run. We weren't good enough to come back from the deficit."

Hiroyuki Nakajima finished 0-for-3 with a walk in what may have been his final game in a Lions uniform.

Nakajima is expected to purse a career in the major leagues next season. The Lions shortstop was posted last year, but returned to Japan when contract negotiations with the New York Yankees fell apart. Nakajima, a career .302 hitter with 162 home runs and 738 RBIs in 11 professional seasons, is free to negotiate with any team of his choosing this time around.

Hawks starter Kenji Otonari threw five innings of one-run ball to earn the win.

"As a starter, I should have been on the mound longer, but I'm relieved that I left with our team ahead," Otonari said.

Reliever Sho Iwaski worked two scoreless innings and Morifuku survived his close call to keep Seibu off the board in the eighth. Okajima earned the save despite allowing a run.

It was a short outing for Lions starter Kazuhisa Ishii, who entered the game 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA in 12 career postseason appearances.

Ishii was charged with a pair of runs over 3⅓ innings. He struck out two and walked one.

Staff writer Kaz Nagatsuka contributed to this report.

Dragons oust Swallows

Kyodo

NAGOYA —

The Chunichi Dragons' hopes of going to a third straight Japan Series remained alive Monday when they came from a run down in the eighth on a Tony Blanco grand slam to clinch the first stage of the Central League Climax Series.

Trailing 1-0, Blanco slammed a 3-1 pitch from Tony Barnette with the bases loaded into the stands in left field and the Dragons beat the Yakult Swallows 4-1 to win the best-of-three first stage 2-1 and advance to the Climax Series final stage against the league champion Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome starting Wednesday.

Barnette, who earned a two-inning save when the Swallows squared the series at 1-1 with a 1-0 victory on Sunday, came in with two on and one out in the bottom of the eighth. He walked the first batter he faced and threw three straight balls to Blanco.

For the second time in the game, a 3-0 count with runners on was an invitation for the Dominican slugger to swing as hard as he could. He missed the first pitch from Barnette but got all of the second one.

"That was the best ball I've ever hit in my life," Blanco said in the on-field hero interview. "I went up with the intention of driving a pitch to the outfield to tie the game with a sacrifice fly."

The Swallows took the lead in the second inning off 47-year-old Masahiro Yamamoto. Shinya Miyamoto singled to open the inning and stole second with one out on the first pitch to Ryoji Aikawa, who did the honors with a single to right. It was the fourth hit of the series for the Swallows catcher.

The Swallows came within inches of a second score in the inning, but were denied by Dragons left fielder Kazuhiro Wada, who snared a two-out sinking liner in the web of his glove that would have plated Aikawa.

Yakult lefty Kyohei Muranaka repeatedly pitched out of jams with a combination of good pitches, good luck and good fielding and allowed no runs in 5⅓ innings.

The Swallows survived a one-out, two-on jam in the sixth — when Golden Glove third baseman Shinya Miyamoto robbed Blanco with a diving snag of a low-flying rocket headed for the left-field corner. Katsuki Akagawa worked a 1-2-3 seventh but surrendered Yohei Oshima's ninth hit of the series to lead off the eighth.

With one out and the tying run on second, Tetsuya Yamamoto walked the only batter he faced and Barnette, whose 33 saves tied for the CL lead, walked Wada to load the bases before falling behind to Blanco.

Yamamoto took the loss, while Takuya Asao, who worked the final two innings for the Dragons, collected the win.

Margarita, Eric Berger (2.70) started and pitched 3.1 inn, 3 hits, 1 homer, 1 run, 1 w, & 3 k's. Berger leaves the game with a 5-2 lead.

Caracas, Jesus Aguilar (.200) in the 7th, 1-3 with a pair of strikeouts. Jesus now has struckout 7 times in his last 8 at bats.

Cibaenas Aguilas, Tim Fedroff 1-3. Game tied. Walked in his first at bat, struck out his next two at bats. Leading off the Aguilas 8th, took 2 quick strikes from a southpaw throwing 100 mph, drilled the third pitch to center for a leadoff basehit. Luna hit by pitch. A force out at second. Runners on the corners with one out. Fedroff with the go-ahead run. Nifty 4-6-3 dp gets Estrellas out of the inning.

Jesus Aguilar had one more at bat in that Caracas ballgame.......he struckout. He's now struckout in 8 or his last 9 at bats. Caracas won the game 5-3.

KANSAS CITY --

Two pitchers from the Royals' Major League roster, right-hander Jeremy Jeffress and left-hander Francisley Bueno, are headed for sunny climes and winter baseball.

Jeffress is on the Venezuelan Winter League roster of Bravos de Margarita, while Bueno will be in the Dominican Winter League with Tigres del Licey.

Five players on MLB.com's Top 20 Royals Prospects list are also in the winter ball scene.

Pitcher J.C. Sulbaran (No. 8), shortstop Orlando Calixte (No. 14) and outfielder Brian Fletcher (No. 15) are with the Surprise Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League. Shortstop Christian Colon (No. 11) is with Leones de Ponce in Puerto Rico and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio (No. 16) is with Tigres del Licey in the Dominican.

The Royals currently list 21 players who are already playing in winter ball or have club approval to do so. Other players are likely to emerge later in the winter leagues. Catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar indicated they likely would play in Venezuela at some point.

Others currently on winter rosters:

Arizona -- Shortstop Alex McClure, second baseman Whit Merrifield, pitchers Edwin Carl, Jon Keck and Justin Marks, Surprise Saguaros.

Venezuela -- Third baseman Mario Lisson and pitcher Brandon Sisk, Navegantes del Magallanes; catcher Max Ramirez and pitcher Blaine Hardy, Bravos de Margarita.

Dominican -- Pitcher Michael Mariot, Tigres del Licey.

Puerto Rico -- Pitcher Ryan Dennick, Indios de Mayaguez.

Mexico -- Infielder-outfielder Anthony Seratelli, Venados de Mazatlan, and pitcher Federico Castaneda, Tomateros de Culiacan.

Australia -- Outfielder Carlos Testa, Melbourne Aces.

Joe, Don't the Asian teams have cheerleaders?

Hardly Dennis The ladies that frequent the Asian games are prim and proper but they are exhuberant.

Hicks stays hot for unbeaten Bravos

Twins' No. 3 prospect goes 2-for-3, drives in a run off the bench

10/17/12 2:34 AM ET
Venezuelan Winter League

Margarita 7, La Guaira 2

Aaron Hicks, the Twins' No. 3 prospect, went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored off the bench as the Bravos improved to 5-0. Former Tigers farmhand Jackson Melian slugged a two-run homer and Frank Diaz went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored for Margarita. Eastern League MVP Darin Ruf (Phillies) and Dodgers prospect Scott Van Slyke went yard for the Tiburones.

Caracas 5, Lara 3

Cubs prospect Yoanner Negrin allowed two hits over five scoreless innings as the Leones held on and snapped the Cardenales' three-game winning streak. Nationals farmhand Carlos Rivero homered for Caracas, while Guillermo Quiroz -- who appeared in two games for the Mariners this season -- slugged a two-run shot for Lara.

Magallanes 9, Zulia 4

Mariners Minor Leaguer Johermyn Chavez went 3-for-5 with a homer, four RBIs and two runs scored, powering the Navegantes past the Aguilas. Angels farmhand Darwin Perez chipped in two hits and scored a run for Magallanes, while Yankees prospect Jose Pirela was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for Zulia, which committed six errors.

Dominican Winter League

Toros 11, Licey 3

Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored out of the leadoff spot in the Toros' first win. Yan Gomes (Blue Jays) and Eugenio Velez, who spent the season with the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate, smacked two-run homers for Este. Mets infielder Jordany Valdespin had two hits, including a solo shot, for Licey.

Escogido at Gigantes, postponed

Mexican Pacific League

Culiacan 3, Navojoa 0 (6 innings)

Former Yankees farmhand Amauri Sanit struck out four over five innings as the Tomateros recorded a rain-shortened one-hitter. Cory Aldridge, who ended the season with the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, homered, doubled and raised his average to .583 for Culiacan. Abel Martinez had the lone hit for Navojoa.

Guasave 9, Mazatlan 4

Twins prospect Chris Colabello went 3-for-4 with an RBI, scored a run and raised his average to .545 in the Algodoñeros' third straight win. Orioles farmhand Zelous Wheeler also had three hits, including a solo homer, and scored three times for Guasave. Jesus Castillo and Heber Gomez went deep in a losing effort.

Mexicali 4, Obregon 3

Irwin Delgado allowed one hit and struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings, helping the Aguilas hand the Yaquis their first loss of the season. Issmael Salas ripped a solo homer, doubled and scored twice for Mexicali, while Cubs farmhand Alfredo Amezaga singled twice, walked twice and scored a run for Obregon.

Margarita Bravos, Eric Berger (2.70) 3.1 inn, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 3 strikeouts.

Caracas Leones, Jesus Aguilar (.188) 1-4, 3 strikeouts (8 strikeouts in his last 9 at bats).