Series Roundup: Eagles vs Lions
Coming off of a dominant performance by Masahiro Tanaka on the 8th, Rakuten looked to build some momentum heading into the week against the Seibu Lions. Marty Brown's team left Sendai disappointed however, dropping the opening and closing game of the series, with a rainout sandwiched in between.
Hisashi Iwakuma (7-7, 2.85) has been struggling recently, surrendering three or more earned runs in his last three starts. This trend continued on Tuesday, bowing out after giving up four runs in just four innings. The Lions offense ran roughshod over the Eagles, winning 9-3. There was some concern that he would miss his next start, but soon afterwards manager Brown reported that he had no plans for 'Kuma to skip his next assigned start.
Thursday's match featured Satoshi Nagai (7-8, 3.45) in a pitcher's duel with Masamitsu Hirano, at least for the first five innings. Takeshi Yamasaki hit his 21st homer of the year, a 2-run shot, to put Rakuten in front 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, but the boys from Saitama came back with their own 2-run home run, courtesy of Tatsuyuki Uemoto. The Lions won 4-3. Like many games this year there's been a home run that swings the game in the opponent's favour, and the Eagles have rarely been able to respond accordingly.
Video highlights and the gaijin lines inside.
Series Roundup: Eagles vs Marines
As this August heatwave continues to punish northern Japan, it would appear that the Eagles too have started to warm up. In the sweep of the Lotte Marines the Eagles began to resemble their 2009 form - aggressive running, solid pitching, timely hits, and home runs. Let's see if this was just a blip on an unimpressive 2010 season, or the start of a push up the standings.
Hisashi Iwakuma (7-6, 2.69) didn't have his best stuff on Tuesday, but it was just enough to keep the Marines at bay. Norihiro Nakamura hit a three run blast, and the Eagles held on to take the opener 5-3.
Lefty Kohei Hasebe (3-2, 5.85) went seven innings but left the game trailing 3-2. Koji Aoyama came on in relief, and Rakuten got some heroics from Teppei Tsuchiya and Takeshi Yamasaki to complete the come from behind victory. Shinichiro Koyama picked up his ninth save of the season.
Satoshi Nagai (7-7, 3.43) had a chance to complete the sweep on Thursday night, the eve of the Tanabata Festival, and didn't disappoint, going the distance as the Eagles beat the Marines 9-3. Rarely used catcher Suguru Ino and Daisuke Kusano both collected three hits and a pair of RBI, powering Rakuten to their first series sweep since July 8th, also against the Marines.
Video highlights, and the foreign players series stats, and some other breakdowns after the break.
Eagles vs Fighters Postgame: Close But No Cigar
KLEENEX STADIUM, SENDAI - The Nippon Ham Fighters broke out with an early five run lead, then held on to stave off a late rally by the Eagles, winning 5-4 last night. Hisashi Iwakuma (6-5) took the loss. Video highlights inside.
Eagles vs Lions Postgame: Powered By Ruiz
SEIBU DOME, SAITAMA - Randy Ruiz broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the eighth inning with a three run shot to centerfield, and Hisashi Iwakuma (6-4) scattered three hits over seven innings to pick up the win against the Pacific League leading Seibu Lions. The Eagles are now on a four game winning streak. Boxscore and video highlights inside.
Eagles vs Swallows Postgame: Rare Form
© rakuteneagles.jp
KLEENEX STADIUM, SENDAI - Hisashi Iwakuma had a rare off-game yesterday afternoon versus the visiting Yakult Swallows, and the Rakuten defense didn't help him out either. Iwakuma (4-4) went 8 innings, but only two of the four runs he allowed were earned. Box score and video highlights inside.
Eagles vs Carp Postgame: Hero-Shima!
© rakuteneagles.jp
KLEENEX STADIUM, SENDAI - Motohiro Shima cracked a bases loaded single into right-center field in the bottom of the tenth inning to cap a comeback victory for the Eagles Saturday night. I'm off to the stadium in a little bit to get in line for the ouendan, so I'll keep the recap pretty brief!
Week In Review, Vol.8
This irregular interleague schedule is really messing with my writing... that and I'm getting busier and lazier at the same time. And my wife's co-worker gave me a bottle of scotch. Let's see who did what last week!
Eagles vs Giants Postgame: The Chono Show
© giants.jp
KLEENEX STADIUM, SENDAI - Home runs proved to be the Eagles' Achilles Heel once again, as the visiting Giants put three into the outfield stands, two off of starter Hisashi Iwakuma. Rookie Hisayoshi Chono knocked two out, including the game winning homer in the top of the ninth inning, off of Tsuyoshi Kawagishi's first pitch. Hiroshi Katayama (1-1) took the loss. Box score and video inside.
Week In Review, Vol.7
The week begins on Wednesday, doesn't it? Head inside for the latest late edition of the Week In Review.
Week In Review, Vol.6
The Eagles slid into the pre-interleague play on a 4 game losing streak, let's see if anyone made The Good list, how many people made The Bad list, and if you can guess who's all alone on The Ugly list.
Last Series (Away)
13th: Win 4-0
14th: Loss 3-2
15th: Loss 6-3
Current Series (Away)
17th @ 6:00 pm
18th @ 6:00 pm
19th @ 6:00 pm
2010 Season Standings
Categories
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- May 2010 (26)
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- March 2010 (14)
- November 2009 (1)
- October 2009 (40)
- September 2009 (16)
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Multimedia
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Yakyu Baka » NPB
- NPB: Roster Changes for 9/4/2010 September 4, 2010Pacific League Roster Updates Added to the Active Roster Nippon Ham Fighters - Sunaga, Hideki P Rakuten Eagles - Kitani, Hisashi P Removed from the Active Roster Nippon Ham Fighters - Ishii, Yuya P Rakuten Eagles - Hasebe, Kohei P […]
- Tsuyoshi Nishioka scores 100th run September 4, 2010Tsuyoshi Nishioka (LOT) recorded his 100th run scored last night and became just the third player in franchise history to reach the 100 run milestone (the last Lotte player to do it was Hiromitsu Ochiai in 1985 with 118; the other player is Kaoru Betto with 108 in 1950). […]
- Kanemoto, Shimoyanagi, Hiyama to return to Tigers next season? September 4, 2010It seems the Tigers feel Tomoaki Kanemoto, Tsuyoshi Shimoyanagi, and Shinjiro Hiyama are all still capable of putting up numbers and are considering them as pieces of the puzzle for the 2011 season. […]
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2009 Season Standings
2009 Playoffs, 1st Stage
16th Win 11-4
17th Win 4-1
Eagles win 2-0
2009 Playoffs, 2nd Stage
21st Loss 9-8
22nd Loss 3-1
23rd Win 3-2
24th Loss 9-4
Fighters win 4-1