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Eagles vs Marines Postgame: Win one for the skipper

Photo © www.marines.co.jp

MARINE STADIUM, CHIBA - On a rain-soaked night, one that probably would have been postponed if not for the significance of it, the Chiba Lotte Marines broke a 2-2 deadlock in the 8th inning to send manager Bobby Valentine off on a high note, defeating the Eagles 5-2.

Things started off well enough for the visiting Rakuten squad.  In the second inning with the bases loaded, Ryo Hijirisawa, replacing the injured Teppei, bounced a single off of 1st base, scoring Takeshi Yamasaki and Daisuke Kusano.

The Marines would strike back in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd however, tying the game at two, where the score would remain until the 8th inning.  With two outs, back to back doubles by LF Ohmatsu and 3B Imai put the Marines ahead 3-2.  Kazuo Fukumori walked Hashimoto on four pitches, then everything really went sideways for the Eagles.  Catcher Tomoya Satozaki hit a harmless looking fly ball to deep right field, but Masato Nakamura, perhaps fighting the rainfall in his face, fell over backwards at the warning track allowing the two runners to score.

Retiring 18-year NPB veteran and long time Orions/Marines pitcher Satoru Komiyama came on to record the final out, giving Bobby Valentine a well deserved win to end his career (at home) in front of an adoring crowd.

Both Komiyama and Valentine gave speeches in a postgame ceremony.  Bobby fought through tears to deliver a heartfelt speech in Japanese, which had every single person in the stadium crying as well.  Or perhaps it was the downpour of rain instead.

Despite the loss, Rakuten's magic number dropped from three to two, thanks to a surprising shutout victory by Orix over Softbank this evening.  If the Eagles win two of their remaining four games, they'll host Softbank in the 1st stage of the Climax Series.

Pitching

Let's hope it was just the weather that had Hisashi Iwakuma down tonight.  He didn't look comfortable the whole night, constantly shaking his pitching arm and struggling with his control.  He battled through the elements however, keeping his team even through six innings.  Kuma's final line: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 K, 3 BB, 2R.

The bullpen failed to do their part though, which has been a frequent thorn in the side of manager Katsuya Nomura.  There is simply no reliable relief pitcher on this team.  While lefty Kenta Satake pitched a hitless 1 1/3 innings, the guilty party tonight was recently demoted closer Kazuo Fukumori (7-1, 9 SV).  I'll give him the benefit of the doubt tonight as the weather conditions had deteriorated considerably by the 8th inning, but to be as consistently inconsistent as these relievers are must keep Nomura awake at night.  Then again probably not, as he seems resigned to the fact that he will not be offered a contract for next year.

Hitting

Apart from that 2-run hiccup in the 2nd inning, Lotte starter Yoshihisa Naruse threw a fantastic game.  The 24-year old scattered five hits over seven innings, striking out nine.

The top of the lineup really missed injured Teppei Tsuchiya tonight.  The 1-2-3 hitter combined to go 0 for 10 on the night.  Ironically, Teppei's replacement in centerfield, Ryo Hijirisawa, was the only Rakuten player to get more than one hit, but Nomura had him batting 8th in the lineup.

Next Game

One more quick turnaround, then a well deserved day off for the Eagles.  Rakuten hosts the second game of this home and home series versus Lotte in what will be Bobby Valentine's final NPB game.  At least until the next time he comes back to Japan!