BASEBALL
Swallows fall out of Central League first place with loss to Tigers
The Hanshin Tigers knocked the Yakult Swallows out of first place in the Central League with a 7-1 victory at Koshien Stadium on Thursday night. The Swallows’ loss, combined with the Chunichi Dragons’ 5-3 win over the Hiroshima Carp, sent the Dragons to the top spot in the league for the first time since May 30.
The Tigers powered to victory on the strength of two home runs by big-hitting first baseman Craig Brazell. The burly American’s three-run shot in the eighth inning broke open a 4-1 game and gave Hanshin a series sweep against the Swallows, who have lost five of their last six.
The Tigers leapt out to a 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings off Yakult starter Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi (7-10). The Swallows cut the lead to one in the top of the third off Hanshin starter Randy Messenger (12-5), but Brazell took over the game from there, hitting a solo home run in the sixth and the three-run shot in the eighth for his 13th and 14th homers of the year.
Elsewhere in the Central League, Yomiuri beat Yokohama 8-2. In the Pacific League, Orix edged Seibu 2-1, Nippon Ham shut out Rakuten 2-0, Softbank topped Chiba Lotte 4-0.
Order by Time Order by Popularity
10 Comments
Login to comment
0
NetNinja
I love the Tigers. The only internationally friendly baseball team in Japan. Other teams' fans show absolutely no love for their foreign players. Hanshin fans have always been there with love and respect for all members of the team.
It's like being invited to the party sincerely.
Hanshin fans: "Come hang out with us, we want you come have a few brews with us"
When the homeruns and hits come....they've always turned to me and other fans with smiles and song, making contact. To see them waving your country's flag as a show of respect is absolutely beautiful. That makes me want to support them, singing as loud as I can "Rokko Oroshi".
It truly is a great experience to be a Tigers fan.
1
kurumazaka
I'm a Tiger fan too, Ninja, but have to admit that the Kyojin folks seem to love Alex Ramirez (he seems to be a pretty easy guy to like) Tiger fans have never forgotten Randy Bass and Cecil Fielder and that love has just been transferred to guys like Sheets, Murton and Brazzel. Can't think of an organization that would be more fun to be a part of, though folks in Hiroshima and Hokkaido may disagree.
0
NetNinja
Alex Ramirez has my respect. He's got a very strong work ethic. He brings it almost every night. I'm not a Giants fan, can't cheer for them but when I see Rami-chan come to the plate I WATCH!! The man is a good player.
I would love to see him run his own bases someday though.
0
NetNinja
P.S: Not only Bass and Fielder. Don't forget Gene Bacque, the first foreign player to win "The Sawamura Award" which is the equivelant of The Heisman. He was also a Hanshin Tiger.
In 2003, Williams signed with the Hanshin Tigers, and earned 25 saves as a closer (52 games), helping the Tigers win their first Central League championship in 18 years.
They show Murton and Brazzell lots of love. I think the fans like Messenger on the mound as well.
Brazzell is lucky cause he has that Randy Bass look. I became a fan maybe 8 or 9 years ago. I attended a lot of games when they had the JFK combination. I like Lin too. Toritani is perhaps one of my favorite players. Too bad I may never have a chance to shake their hands.
I'm excited cause I'll be at Yokohama stadium tonight in my Hanshin Happi and Cap. Bringing my Japanese and American friends too. This nice little group are all true to heart Hanshin Fans so we will have a good time.
One more thing I'd like to mention. I think the players are lucky and glad that are with Hanshin. They're so far away from home. Maybe they feel like "I'm in a minor league, this isn't MLB" but the fans make the difference. They can really enjoy Japan and Baseball because of that support.
I feel sorry for people Blanco, Woods, Sledge and Kroon. They all moved from team to team trying to find that one place / team that makes the sport more enjoyable. Hanshin is that place.
There's no better team than Hanshin. Win or Lose, Tigers Pride!!
0
Lunchbox
As much as I hate Yomiuri, gotta love Ramirez. I think he did a lot for his own popularity though.
Hanshin treats it's gaijin players well when they are heroes, but the fans can be pretty quick to boo them when they don't perform. Arias would be a good example, he was a hero for 6 months, even had his own chant instead of the standard gaijin song, but a few months later he was booed and dumped.
0
techall
"*The Sawamura Award" which is the equivelant of The Heisman. * NetNinja: The Sawamura is the Japanese equivalent to the Cy Young Award (to the best pitcher). The Heisman is for the outstand college football player of the year.
0
pawatan
Mostly lose.
Quite a few teams treat their foreign players well. My Chiba Lotte Marines built a lot of their marketing last year around a Korean player, even though he pretty well sucked. Sikorski was loved for year by Lotte fans, too.
0
lostrune2
They're still in regular season play?
0
NetNinja
Silly me. You were right. It was the Cy Young award.
Pawatan!! Mostly lose? 4 game winning streak. Not bad at all.
0
pawatan
1985, NetNinja. If you are a Hanshin fan you just need to remember - 1985. Heck, they've only been Central champs 5 times.
Best of luck to Hanshin and their fans, but it's always a long road filled with heartbreak and loss.
Back to top