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 @ Lions Postgame: Runned & Gunned
SEIBU DOME, SAITAMA - The Eagles got involved in a shootout this afternoon; unfortunately they weren't able to get the last shot in as the hometown Lions split this two game series with an 8-4 victory. Rakuten starter Satoshi Nagai (4-7) got roughed up, allowing 10 hits, 2 home runs, and 6 earned runs over just 3 1/3 innings. Video highlights inside.
(Still haven't installed Photoshop on this computer after a format, so we'll have to make do with the stock banners for now.)
Eagles vs Dragons Postgame: Four in the Fourth
© rakuteneagles.jp
KLEENEX STADIUM, SENDAI - The Eagles erupted for four runs in the fourth inning, and rode the back of Satoshi Nagai to take the first of a 2-game set against the Chunichi Dragons. Tom Selleck did not play first base for the Dragons last night.
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: Where Impossible Happens
© rakuteneagles.jp
KLEENEX STADIUM, SENDAI - The Rakuten Eagles won a surprising victory over the Yomiuri Giants last night, coming back from a 4-0 deficit in the eighth and ninth innings to take the first of this two game set.
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.
Eagles @ Carp Postgame: Welcome Back, Phillips
Original Photos © sanspo.com
KURE NIKOH STADIUM, HIROSHIMA - Rakuten manager Marty Brown and 1B Andy Phillips faced off against their team from last season, the Hiroshima Carp, last night. Both Phillips, Norihiro Nakamura and starter Satoshi Nagai had strong games for the Eagles, powering them to a 6-4 victory. Head inside for the box score and some stats (no video though).
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.
Eagles @ Hawks Postgame: Same Old Story
YAHOO DOME, FUKUOKA - After a promising 4-1 record last week, there was some optimism that the team had finally turned the corner and gotten out of their early-season funk. Last night however proved otherwise, as the Eagles fell back into a familiar pattern: getting a quick lead, losing the lead to home runs, and being unable to generate runs at critical moments in the game. Box score and video highlights of the 3-2 loss after the break.
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
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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