Cleveland Sports Forum

Lions raise their winning streak to four

SANTO DOMINGO.- Blake Swihart led the Scarlet offense with a double, two singles and two RBIs in a 6-3 victory over the Giants of the Cibao on Tuesday in a game at Estadio Quisqueya.

The win was the fourth straight for the scarlet (6-2), who are positioned at the top of the autumn-winter tournament, tied with the Eastern Stars, who beat the Eastern Bulls in La Romana 3-1. On their side, the Giants (5-3) retreated to third place.

With the Lions down 1-0 at the close of the first, Eloy Jimenez dropped a fly ball by Willy Garcia that allowed Eury Perez to score. After a walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Swihart singled off of Giants starter Paul Clemens to give the Reds a one run lead.

In the second came two more runs for the Lions, the first on a hit by Willi Castro and the second on a single to center by Garcia.

Starter Casey Kelly finished with 4.2 innings of work in which he struck out four and did not issue any walks. He did give up two runs, one of them earned, and gave up four hits.

The victory was awarded to Alsis Herrera (1-0), who threw a third of an inning to close out the fifth inning. The setback went to Paul Clemens who would work three innings in which he conceded six hits, four runs, two earned, two tickets and no strike outs.

In addition to Swihart, the Lions Garcia, 2-4 with a run batted in, Eury Perez, 2-4 with two runs and a walk, and Guerrero Jr., who concluded with his second triple of the season.

For the Giants, Rosa finished 2-5 with a run batted in, Richard Ureña also hit two hits and Taylor finished 1-4 with a run.

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, left, is congratulated by Yokohama DeNA BayStars manager Alex Ramirez after hitting a two-run homer in the fifth inning against the Hiroshima Carp on Tuesday night at Mazda Stadium.

BayStars pull off rare run into Japan Series

HIROSHIMA — Behind a barrage of home runs and a parade of pitchers, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars become the first third-place team from the Central League to advance to the Japan Series by winning a Climax Series.

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo hit two of the BayStars’ five home runs and seven pitchers combined to scatter nine hits as Yokohama powered to a 9-3 victory over the Hiroshima Carp on Tuesday night at Mazda Stadium to clinch the series 4-2.

With the Carp starting the final stage of the Climax Series with a one-game advantage as league champion, the BayStars rallied from a 2-0 deficit to sweep the next four games and advance to the Japan Series for the first time since winning it all in 1998. The victory avenged a loss in the same stage last season to the Carp.

In the Japan Series, which starts Saturday, the BayStars will face the Pacific League champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, who ousted that league’s third-place team, the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, in their Climax Series final stage.

The BayStars, who finished 14½ games out of first place, will seek to emulate the only other third-place team to make the Japan Series, the PL’s Chiba Lotte Marines in 2010, who went on to capture the championship.

On Tuesday night, the Carp scored two runs in the first inning, which was enough for BayStars manager Alex Ramirez to take out starter Kenta Ishida. From there, while the Yokohama batters were planting shots into the Mazda Stadium stands, the pitchers basically held in check a Carp lineup that had the highest team batting average (.273) in all of Japan pro baseball.

After Toshiro Miyazaki cut the lead in half with a solo homer in the second, the BayStars went ahead 3-2 in the third on Masayuki Kuwahara’s two-run homer.

Tsutsugo, who had just one hit in 16 at-bats in last year’s final stage, homered in consecutive at-bats, a two-run shot in the fifth and a solo blast in the seventh, and Takayuki Kajitani added a two-run homer in the eighth.

The turning point came in the bottom of the third, after the BayStars had gone ahead. The Carp put runners on first and third with one out. When Ryuhei Matsuyama swung at a third strike, Yoshihiro Maru jumped off first base, which started a rundown. During the rundown, Ryosuke Kikuchi broke from third base, but was tagged out at home to end the inning.Speech

Lions waiting for Yandy Díaz and Trayvon Robinson

The imported players for Caracas, at batting level, has not been ideal. Henry Ramos, could only play five games and Felix Perez, who has not contributed to the offense, now also has an injury. The Lions board , for this reason, is in the process of bringing in the outsiders Yandy Díaz and Trayvon Robinson.

"Unfortunately we lost a valuable player in Ramos, his thigh injury will not allow him to return" said Luis Avila , president of the Lions, in conversation with the press circuit on Tuesday. "Now Felix Perez also suffered an injury to one of his legs, on Sunday he had to leave before the game and on Monday he could not play, that's why we are in the arduous process of bringing in Yandy Diaz , it's complicated, but we hope that comes this week. "

The Cuban Yandy Díaz played his first season in the criolla ball the previous season. He had a brilliant debut, played 40 games and managed to accumulate a batting average of .371, with 56 hits, including nine doubles, three triples and two homers, also had 20 walks, scored 24 runs and drove in 18.

"We have hit well, but not timely because we have left many people on base, Felix Perez and 'El Pollito' (Henry Rodriguez) have not been able to react. We hope that with the arrival of Yandy and also of the American Trayvon Robinson, things will take a turn, " Ávila said .

The right fielder, Trayvon Robinson, will come to Venezuela for the fourth time in a row. The first two seasons he played in the country was standardized with Leones, but in the previous one he saw action with the Águilas del Zulia and won the championship.

"Robinson is a player who knows the league well," explained Ávila. "Here he has yielded a lot, he is not the super prospect that he was at some point, but he is an excellent player. It could arrive between Thursday and Friday, "he closed.

joez wrote:

Ronny Rodríguez walkoff homer leaves Licey on the field

SANTIAGO.-

The Cibao Eagles, with a dramatic homer from Ronny Rodriguez against Jose Domínguez in the ninth inning, defeated the Licey Tigers 5-3 at Cibao Stadium.

Jorge Lopez, in his third start, came out without a decision 0-0 and 1.84 ERA, with 14.2 innings pitched on 10 hits and 3 earned runs.

Cuban Oneli Garcia came into the game 0-0 with a 1.93 ERA, with three earned runs on 9 hits in 15.0 innings and left without a decision.

That Pitcher has a Bob Feller leg kick!!!

Dominican League

Ronny Rodriguez (2B, Aguilas Cibaenas): 0-5. After his big three-hit game on Tuesday, Rodriguez had a quiet night at the plate on Wednesday against Toros going 0-for-5. So far this offseason, the 25-year-old is hitting .289 with two homers and four RBI's in nine games.

Henry Martinez (RP, Leones del Escogido): 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 0 K, W (2-0). With two shutout innings of work on Wednesday, Martinez picked up his second straight win in relief and still has yet to allow a run in four appearances (7.2 IP) while giving up just two hits and striking out five.

Michael Martinez (DH, Estrellas Orientales): 1-3. Martinez got off to a later start to his winter ball campaign, but so far, the veteran has swung the bat well going 4-for-13 at the plate (.308) with three RBI's and a run scored in four games thus far.

Carlos Frias (RP, Gigantes del Cibao): 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 0 K. Frias's night on the mound was short-lived on Wednesday as the right-hander pitched to only one batter in the fifth inning for Gigantes and walked him. That runner would be stranded, however, thus keeping his scoreless streak in tact to start the campaign.

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE (LVBP)

Yonathan Mendoza (Cardenales de Lara, PR) - no plate appearances - Mendoza pinch-ran for 1B Jesus Montero in the ninth inning and was stranded at third base when the game ended. Yonathan continues to see limited playing time in Venezuela, having come to the plate only twelve times (ten official at-bats) in nine games.

Luis Lugo (Cardenales de Lara, RP) - 0.2 IP, 1 H - Lugo's shortest outing of the winter season was his best so far. Lugo held the opposition scoreless for the first time this offseason and allowed only one hit.

Doosan Bears' starting pitcher Dustin Nippert pitches in the bottom of the first inning during Game 1 of the Korean Series against the Kia Tigers at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, Wednesday. The Bears won 5-3. / Yonhap

Doosan off to strong start with win over Kia in Korean Series Game 1

The Doosan Bears opened the Korean Series campaign with a 5-3 win over the Kia Tigers, Wednesday, .

The best-of-seven championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League began with President Moon Jae-in's ceremonial first pitch at Gwangju-Kia Champions Field.

The Bears, in their quest for a three-peat, could grab the win thanks to back-to-back home runs by Kim Jae-hwan and Oh Jae-il in the fifth inning. The Bears' starter Dustin Nippert was named MVP of Game 1, throwing six solid innings.

With the win, the Seoul-based team is now in a better position to earn its sixth Korean Series win. In the previous 34 Korean Series, 75.8 percent of Game 1 winners went on to win the title.

The Bears scored the first run in the top of the fourth inning with Oh Jae-won's bases-loaded walk.

With one out, the Tigers' starter Hector Noesi walked two straight batters to load the bases. After a fielding error by second baseman An Chi-hong, the Dominican ace struck out Park Sei-hyeok but walked Oh to give the Bears a 1-0 lead.

The Bears' big inning came in the fifth inning as they scored four runs.

With a runner on second with one out, Park Kun-woo hit a RBI single to left for a 2-0 lead. The Bears added three more runs as Kim Jae-hwan smashed a two-run home run and Oh Jae-il then followed up with a solo home run. The back-to-back homers were the 22nd in postseason history and eighth in Korea Series.

The Tigers quickly responded in the following inning as Roger Bernadina smashed a three-run home run off Nippert to cut the deficit to 5-3. But the Bears' bullpen didn't let it get away as Ham Deok-ju and Kim Kang-ryul combined three scoreless innings.

The Game 2 will take place at the same place, Thursday. It will be a duel of southpaw aces as the Tigers will start Yang Hyeon-jong who had 20 wins and six losses in 193.1 innings in the regular season while the Bears will start Chang Won-jun, who recorded 14 wins and nine losses in 180.1 innings.

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters won the right to negotiate a contract with slugger Kotaro Kiyomiya in Thursday’s Nippon Professional Baseball draft.

Fighters win draft rights to Kiyomiya

The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters will likely lose one superstar, but they have the opportunity to replace him after winning the negotiating rights to Waseda Jitsugyo High School slugger Kotaro Kiyomiya at the Nippon Professional Baseball amateur draft on Thursday in Tokyo.

Seven teams opted for Kiyomiya with their first picks, but it was Fighters front-office executive Masao Kida — drawing third among the seven teams — who came away with the winning envelope. The Fighters might have found a bat to replace two-way star Shohei Otani, who figures to play in the majors next year.

Kotaro Kiyomiya, who holds the unofficial high school baseball record of 111 home runs, on Friday expressed his intention to turn professional.

"I have decided to try for my next big dream with the understanding of how tough it is to be a pro," the 18-year-old Waseda Jitsugyo High School senior told a press conference in Tokyo.

"I want to clear each hurdle that presents itself before me. I would like to join a team that will help me grow as a player," said Kiyomiya.

Kiyomiya also said he hopes that he will one day be able to hit 868 homers and match the all-time professional home run record held by Sadaharu Oh.

Meanwhile, Hiroshima Carp skipper Koichi Ogata went first in a two-way draw with Chunichi Dragons manager Shigekazu Mori and won the right to negotiate with high school slugger Shosei Nakamura of Koryo in Hiroshima.

Orix and the Saitama Seibu Lions drew lots for the right to work out a contract with left-handed pitcher Daiki Tajima of the corporate league’s JR East, and Buffaloes manager Junichi Fukura grabbed the winning lot after drawing first.

The Yomiuri Giants, who also missed in the lottery for Kiyomiya and for high school hurler Munetaka Murakami, settled for third-choice Takuya Kuwahara, a pitcher from Chuo University.

The Chiba Lotte Marines won the right to negotiate with infielder Hisanori Yasuda of Osaka’s Riseisha High School.Speech

Venezuelan League (LVBP)

Yonathan Mendoza (PR, Cardenales de Lara) Mendoza made a brief appearance to the box score pinch running in the 9th inning. He has been used mostly as a sub off the bench so far, logging just ten at-bats in ten games played.

D.J. Brown (RP, Tigres de Aragua) 2.0 IP, H, 0 ER. Brown continued his strong start to the Venezuelan season by tossing two more shutout innings. Brown did not dominate with any strikeouts, but was efficient tossing 13 of 19 pitches for strikes. He has not allowed an earned run in 10.2 innings over seven games.
Dominican League (LIDOM)

Henry Martinez (RP, Leones del Escogido) 0.2 IP, H, ER. Martinez gave up his first run of the Dominican season last night. This was his first rough outing as he as looked sharp otherwise registering a 1.08 ERA in 8.1 innings pitched thus far.

Ronny Rodriguez (2B, Aguilas Cibaenas) 2-5, RBI, SO. Rodriguez continues to swing a hot bat registering his third multi-hit game in his last five games. He also knocked in his third run of the offseason. Ronny-Rod is now hitting .302 in ten games this fall.

Joe Colon (RP, Aguilas Cibaenas) 1.0 IP, H, 0 ER, SO, HD. Colon converted his second hold in his third game pitched. Joe is looking to log some innings to get some work in this fall after being suspended in early July for the rest of the season.

Michael Martinez (2B, Estrellas Orientales) 1-3, R, BB. Martinez keeps swinging a good bat as he is now hitting .313 in five games. The veteran utility man continues to show his value by handling the bat well to go along with his defensive versatility.

Cole Sulser (RP, Estrellas Orientales) 2.0 IP, H, 0 ER, 2 SO, HD. Sulser picked up his second hold in his fourth appearance of the offseason. He has allowed just one earned run so far which is good for a 1.80 ERA.

The Stars return to dominate the Tigers

SANTO DOMINGO.-

The Eastern Stars defeated for the third time in a row the Tigres del Licey, this time 4-1in the winter baseball tournament Don Pepe Busto held this Friday at the Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal.

Imported Scott Copeland (1-1), who retired 11 in a row, scored the win, while the reverse went to Esmil Rogers (1-2), who allowed seven hits and three runs in four and one third innings, with two walks and three strikeouts.

Copeland, who faced problems with command in the first inning, in which he gave up two walks, made adjustments and in five innings allowed two singles, with pair of walks and five strikeouts.

The work of Copeland was supported by relievers José Manuel Fernández (1.0 IP), Cole Sulser (1.0 IP), Chris Smith (1.0 IP), Wirfin Obispo (1.0 IP, C).

The Stars, connected for eight hits, Ángelo Mora, 1-3 two rbi, one scored and one walk; Socrates Brito, 2-4 with a walk; Michael Martinez, 1-3 with a walk; Ryder Jones, 1-5.

THE RUNS

The Orientales scored in the second inning off of the deliveries of Rogers, who after one out allowed a single to right by Michael Martinez, who arrived to third after a hit to center by Alberto Rosario and then scored on a force out from first to shortstop of Ángelo Mora.
Giants remain undefeated at home, beat the Eagles 7-5

SAN FCO. DE M ..-

Outfielder Moises Sierra hit a three-run double that led the Gigantes del Cibao to a tight 7-5 victory over the Aguilas Cibaeña in the continuation of the Dominican professional baseball tournament dedicated to José Manuel Busto.

Sierra hit the shot at the close of the seventh inning with full bases breaking a tie of four runs.

The debut of pitcher Alfredo Simón after a nine year absence in the Dominican ball was awarded the win by facing 8 batters, two hits, one run and two strikeouts in the two innings that he saw action.

On his side reliever Abel de los Santos was the defeated pitcher allowing three runs in one complete inning.

In the ninth the Aguilas scored a run with a double to center and was batted in with a single by Ronnie Rodríguez.

For the Giants Eloy Jiménez, Aderlin Rodríguez and Rosell Herrera a home run, Garabez Rosa and Carlos Paulino two singles, and Beau Taylor, Moises Sierra and Ramón Torres a double each and Melvin Mercedes a hit.

For the eagles Juan Carlos Pérez double and single, Zoilo Almonte, Jun Ho Kang, Ronnie Rodriguez and Edwin Espinal two hits, Erick Mejia a run, and Reese McGuirre a hit.

Venezuelan League

Yonathan Mendoza (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 0-1. Mendoza came in as a defensive replacement and only logged one at-bat, as has been the case for the Tribe infield prospect throughout the winter ball campaign thus far as he has now logged just 10 at-bats in 10 games and has yet to record a hit while walking once, striking out twice and stealing a base.

Dominican League

Ronny Rodriguez (RF, Aguilas Cibaenas): 2-5, 2 R, 1 K. With his two-hit performance on Saturday, Rodriguez put together his fourth multi-hit game in his last six for Aguilas as he is now batting .313 with two homers and five RBI's through 10 games thus far on his 2017 winter ball campaign.

Joe Colon (RP, Aguilas Cibaenas): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 1 K. Colon was only called upon to face one hitter on Saturday night and he did his job striking him out. Aside from one hiccup on Tuesday where he gave up two runs on a hit, the Puerto Rican native has pitched well so far this offseason allowing just one hit over 2.1 shutout innings otherwise while walking one and striking out three.

The Eastern Stars impose themselves on the Eagles and climb into first place

SANTIAGO.-

The Eastern Stars again on the Aguilas del Cibao 7-1, counting again on good defense and timely hitting, to take over the first place of the Professional Dominican Baseball Champion, dedicated to Don Pepe Busto.

In the seventh the Eagles scored two, but they fell short, Ronny Rodríguez, Juan Carlos Pérez and Zoilo Almonte opened with singles, Jun Ho Kan, hit a sacrifice fly to right for the fourth aguilucha run, Rafael Inoa negotiated a walk to bat in the fifth, but the pachyderms managed to stop the yellow bleeding, forcing Rafael Inoa for the third out on a harmless grounder to second.

The starter for the elephants, Evan McClane, despite not having his best start left without a decision, working three innings allowing hree runs, but had offensive support from his teammates.

The Stars after McClane, used Jailen Peguero (4), Adrián Salcedo (5), Juan Paniagua (5), Lizarberto Bonilla (7), Dustin Molleken (7), César Cabral (7), and José Valverde (8).

Yuniesky Malla starter for Eaglets worked four and two thirds of innings, followed by Víctor Payano (5), Ulises Joaquín (6), who lost the match, Wandy Rodríguez (6), Joe Colón (7), Yoel Espinal (8), Juan Grullón (8) and Richard Rodríguez (9).

Kia one win away from Korea Series championship after 5-1 win over Doosan

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Kia Tigers defeated the Doosan Bears 5-1 in Game 4 of the Korean Series, Sunday.

The Tigers now sit with a 3-1 series lead and are only one win away from their 11th Korean Series championship. Meanwhile, the Bears must win every game from now on in order to complete their three-peat.

Despite chilly and windy weather conditions, 25,000 spectators packed the Jamsil Baseball Stadium to watch the championship series of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) League.

The Tigers started their sidearm pitcher Im Gi-yeong while the Bears countered with southpaw Yoo Hee-kwan. Im earned his first career Korean Series win after throwing a scoreless 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. Kim Se-hyun picked up a save, throwing a scoreless 1 1/3 innings.

The Tigers got off to a good start from the first inning, scoring two runs.

With one out in the top of the first inning, Kim Joo-chan hit a double to right center off Bears' starter Yoo and Roger Bernadina drove him home with a triple down the right field line. Then, the No. 4 hitter Choi Hyung-woo brought Bernadina home with an infield single to make it 2-0.

After trading zeroes, the Tigers added two more runs in the top seventh.

Lee Bum-ho led off the inning with a single and Kim Min-sik sent Lee to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Kim Sun-bin drew a walk to fill the first base and Lee Myung-ki hit a fly out to left fielder.

With runners on first and second base with two outs, Kim Joo-chan hit a grounder to shortstop Kim Jae-ho who bobbled the ball and pinch-runner Ko Jang-hyeok scored from second.

With runners on first and third, Bernadina then followed up with a single to left to give the Tigers some insurance.

The Bears scored their first and only run in the bottom of the eighth inning with Nick Evans' two-out single.

The Tigers added one more run in the ninth on Kim Joo-chan's fielder's choice and closer Kim Se-hyun closed out the game.

Game 5, which will take place at Jamsil Baseball Stadium at 6:30 p.m. , Monday, will be a rematch of ace pitchers.

The Tigers will start Hector Noesi who gave up four earned runs while striking out only two in six innings in Game 1. The Dominican pitcher baffled the Bears' batters to only two hits up until the third inning, but things got rough from the fourth.

For the must-win game, the Bears will counter with ace Dustin Nippert, who had been strong in autumn baseball. It remains to be seen whether the veteran pitcher can give the Bears life. He picked up a win in the 5-3 Game 1 win, Wednesday, and recorded an ERA of 2.25 in six career Korean Series starts.

The Hawks' Yuya Hasegawa belts a two-run home run in the second inning against the BayStars on Saturday night in Game 1 of the Japan Series. Fukuoka SoftBank routed Yokohama 10-1 at Yafuoku Dome. | KYODO

Hawks erupt for seven runs in fifth inning, pound BayStars in Game 1

BY JASON COSKREY

FUKUOKA –

The day before this Japan Series was scheduled to start, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks closer Dennis Sarfate said his team had the best starting rotation, best lineup and best bullpen in the league.

It’s hard to argue with him after the way SoftBank opened the series.

Yuya Hasegawa hit a two-run home run and was one of four Hawks with at least two RBIs, Kodai Senga silenced Yokohama’s bats and the Hawks rode a seven-run fifth inning to a 10-1 rout of the BayStars in Game 1 of the 2017 Japan Series on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 36,183 at Yafuoku Dome.

The Hawks lead the best-of-seven series 1-0.

“We want to play the way we usually do,” Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo said. “Instead of doing something extra, we want to keep setting the table for the next player and be in high spirits when we play. Baseball should be played with joy.”

There was plenty of joy, and RBIs, to go around on Saturday.

“When we went out on the field, we just all played as one,” Hawks slugger Alfredo Despaigne said.

Hasegawa drove in two runs with his first homer of the postseason, Despaigne had a run-scoring double and an RBI single, Yuki Yanagita drove in a pair with a single and Kenta Imamiya had a two-run triple. Keizo Kawashima and Takuya Kai were also credited with RBIs.

“It’s my job to drive in runs,” Despaigne said. “I’m happy I was able to do that today.”

The Hawks did most of their damage in the fifth, when they turned a 3-1 lead into a 10-1 blowout.

Imamiya walked to lead off the inning, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Despaigne drove him in with a single. Kawashima and Kai drew consecutive bases-loaded walks later in the inning to make it 6-1, and Yanagita put two more on the board with a hit to right field. Imamiya stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning and drove in two runs with a triple to make the score 10-1.

It all added up to very rude welcome to Fukuoka for the BayStars, who are playing in the franchise’s first Japan Series since 1998.

“First game out there, I’m sure some of the guys were a little bit nervous,” BayStars manager Alex Ramirez said. “That happens. It’s part of the game sometimes.”

The Hawks stumbled out of the gates during the final stage of the Pacific League Climax Series, but are seemingly firing on all cylinders now. The win was their fourth straight in the postseason, and they’ve now hit at least one home run in six straight playoff games.

Senga was in control throughout his outing, allowing four hits and an unearned run over seven innings while striking out three and walking two. He didn’t miss as many bats as he normally does, but proved to be more than Yokohama could handle.

“Our offense scored a lot of runs, that was the biggest reason (for the win) Senga said. “I was able to pitch without completely messing things up.”

Relivers Yudai Mori, Shinya Kamaya and Hayato Terahara kept the BayStars off the board in the final two frames.

“I was tired,” Senga said when asked why he came out after seven innings. “Plus we had a (nine-run) lead. It feels good to have won anyway.”

While the teams are officially not naming probable starters, Kudo let it slip Senga was starting Game 1 anyway during batting practice. It’s widely expected the Hawks will send Nao Higashihama to the mound in Game 2.

“I’m not going to tell you guys who tomorrow’s pitcher will be,” Kudo teased.

BayStars starter Shoichi Ino lasted 4 1/3 innings and was charged with seven runs — six earned. Reliever Kenjiro Tanaka allowed three runs in a third of an inning.

“I felt good in the bullpen, but I wasn’t able to throw strikes when I tried to pitch inside,” Ino said.

Yokohama got it’s only run on a grounder by Masayuki Kuwahara in the fifth inning.

Yanagita led off the bottom of the first with a single and Imamiya moved him along with a sacrifice bunt. Despagine hammered a double into left to bring Yanagita home and make the score 1-0 Hawks.

The lead was soon 3-0, after Nobuhiro Matsuda’s leadoff single and Hasegawa’s two-run homer to center in the second inning.

Yokohama’s Tomo Otosaka hit a grounder to second baseman Kenji Akahashi to begin the fifth. He was safe at first when Akashi fumbled the ball and raced to third on a single by Toshihiko Kuramoto. Kuwahara hit a grounder to shortstop, and the Hawks took the out at second as Otosaka scored.

From there, it was all SoftBank.

The BayStars lost the first game of their two previous series, against the Hanshin Tigers and Hiroshima Carp, before rebounding the win the remaining games each time. Now they’re hoping to bounce back against SoftBank.

“We lost the first game against Hanshin. We lost the first two games against Hiroshima (the Carp began with a one-win advantage and then won Game 1), lost the first game here,” Ramirez said. “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Tomorrow is another day.”

Fukuoka SoftBank's Kenta Imamiya (center) slides to touch home ahead of Yokohama catcher Yasutaka Tobashira in the seventh inning of the Hawks' 4-3 win over the BayStars in Game 2 of the Japan Series on Sunday in Fukuoka. | KYODO

Hawks win Game 2 of Japan Series after contentious call

BY JASON COSKREY

FUKUOKA –

All anyone could do was wait. A decision that could have a big impact on the complexion of the Japan Series hung in the balance, as the umpiring crew checked replay after replay in the bottom of the seventh inning at Yafuoku Dome.

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks had definitely scored one run on Akira Nakamura’s hit to right to tie the game. The question was, had they actually scored two and taken a one-run lead, or had the Yokohama BayStars recorded the third out of the inning by the slimmest of margins.

After a very, very lengthy review, the verdict came in: Kenta Imamiya was safe at home, and the Hawks had a one-run lead.

An advantage relievers Livan Moinelo and closer Dennis Sarfate made hold up over the seventh and eight innings, as the Hawks edged the BayStars 4-3 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“Nakamura came up with a great hit, and Imamiya made a great head-first slide at home,” Hawks manager Kimiyasu Kudo said. “Those plays carried us to the win.”

After being held to a single run by BayStars starter Shota Imanaga and trailing by two runs, the Hawks came alive against the Yokohama bullpen.

Pinch hitter Kenji Akashi led off with a double off Tomoya Mikami and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. Yuki Yanagita drove him in with a single off Yoshiki Sunada to make the score 3-2. Seiichi Uchikawa drew a two-out walk against Yokohama’s Spencer Patton later in the frame to load the bases for Nakamura. The “Lefty Sniper” came through with a hit to right.

“I wasn’t thinking about possibly not getting a hit,” Nakamura said. “Rather, I was only thinking about getting a hit by any means. I only had a positive mindset.”

Yanagita scored easily, and Imamiya raced home from second and slid in just as catcher Yasutaka Tobashira collected the relay and dove to make the tag.

“I caught a glimpse of the BayStars’ relay as I was rounding third and thought to myself, ‘this is no good,’ ” Imamiya said. “So I decided to go in head first and it paid off.”

He was initially ruled out, which quickly brought Kudo out of the dugout to ask for a review. The umpiring crew acquiesced and disappeared for several minutes.

“We watched five or six different replays, from different angles, to try and determine the location of the (catcher’s) mitt and (Imamiya’s) hand,” umpire Atsushi Kitaka said.

“We saw a clear replay and that’s why we reversed the call. Of course, if we had a video that indicated he was out, we would’ve stayed with the original call.”

The Hawks stood in their dugout, while the BayStars waited in the field, both sides unsure of whether the inning would continue or not as the umpires deliberated.

“The catcher touched my wrist from above, so I thought we had a chance,” Imamiya said.

It was a nervous wait.

“I was thinking it might stay as an out,” Imamiya added.

Some Hawks fans began to chant “safe, safe” as they grew restless in the stands, and erupted when the call was finally reversed.

“I’ve never heard it louder than that,” Nakamura said. “I was so excited I got goosebumps.”

Like Kudo, he credited Imamiya for his slide.

“Timing-wise, he was definitely out,” Nakamura said. “But Imamiya made a great slide, and I’m thankful for that.”

Imamiya was only on base because of a one-out error by second baseman Tatsuhiro Shibata on a ball that could’ve resulted in an inning-ending double play.

“That error was the one that basically killed the inning,” BayStars manager Alex Ramirez said. “That would’ve been a double play and the inning would’ve been over with just one run. That happens. That was a really good play by Shibata, but we just couldn’t come up with the double play.”

Ramirez didn’t dispute the ruling on the play at the plate.

“After they went inside and saw the replay, how many umpires saw the replay, five, six,” he said. “They came back and called it safe, it was safe.”

The Hawks’ Shuta Ishikawa was credited with the win in relief. Spencer Patton took the loss. Neither starter factored in the decision despite staging a pitcher’s duel early.

Imanaga left the game after allowing just one run on five hits and striking out 10, his most in 2017, over six innings.

“Great pitching by Imanaga,” Ramirez said.

His counterpart, Nao Higashihama lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on four hits and striking out six.

Nakamura finished with a pair of RBIs, while Alfredo Despaigne and Yanagita drove in the Hawks’ other runs.

The BayStars scored all their runs in the sixth. Takayuki Kajitani led off with a home run and Toshiro Miyazaki hit a two-run blast.

The series now heads to Yokohama for at least the next two games, and a third if the BayStars can win once.

“We’ve finished the first two games and took both, Kudo said. “That’s the best possible way to do it.”

While the Hawks are halfway to the crown, the BayStars aren’t ready to bow out yet. They’ll be back at Yokohama Stadium for the first time since their regular-season finale on Oct. 4, for Game 3.

“They haven’t won yet,” Ramirez said. “They gotta win four games. We have to get back home. We haven’t been home in a long time. So we’re going to take it home.”