Game 56
New Zealand vs Japan
This is the 8:30pm game and should start on time
Jeremy Manley has the ball for New Zealand
Tatsuya Hamaghuchi starts for Japan
UMPIRE SCHEDULE FOR TODAY
8:25 the Haka by the Black Sox
and we have Les Novak in the booth with us tonight
8:30pm
T1
21, Makea, walks
12, Nathan Nukunuku, out
11, Jarrad Martin, fly to cf, out
14, Travis Wilson, out
22, Donny Hale, hit by pitch - bases loaded - two out
15, Brad Rona, burns it so hard the 3b is knocked down, scores two, runners on 1 and 2
1, Pat Shannon, fly to ss and out
8:43pm
two runs on one hit, no errors, left 2 on base
B1
8, Hiroshi Tshmura, out at 1b
6, Maskaru Tsukamoto, single
12, Rivji Hazeyama, runner to 2b, single scores run - moving fast
19, Kenji Nakamura, two out, runner on 1bgrounds to 2b, out at 1b
one run on two hits, no errors, one lob
2-1 for NZ leading Japan after one full inning
9:56pm
T2
10, Casley, out in deep rf
17, Daniel Milne, walks
21, Tomas Makea, hit by pitch, called back, coach asks why no walk, blue conference, Makea stays in the box. walks eventually
12, Nathan Nukunuku, rams it down the right side to score one. runner is on 1b
11, Jarrad Martin, pings it staight down the 3b side to score 2 - now its a 5-1 ball game
14, Travis Wilson, walk
22, Hale, grounded to ss, to 2b, to 1b, nice double play - but then the bump a the jeers, Wilson's sholder just brushed the 2b when he stood up but then the crowd reacted - large Kiwi group tonight
9:20pm
5-1 for NZ leading
B2
two out real fast
23, Shuhet, n
next batter hits into a beautiful double play
5-1 for NZ leading
9:27pm
new pitcher, 11, Kazutaka Murasato
T3
15, Brad Rona, out
1, Shannon, single to lf
10, Casley, double into cf, moves Shannon to 3b
17, Milne, fly to ss and out, two out
21, Makea, stikes out
no runs on two hits, no errors, 2 lob
9:38pm
B3
1 out
8, cf Hiroshi Ishimura, out
6, Masakasu singles
15, ss, Riuji, fly to the fence in cf and out
no runs on one hit
5-1 for NZ
9:47pm
T4
12, nukes out at 1b
11, Jarrad Martin, strikes out
14, Travis Wilson, the ss knew where to be!
no runs on no hits, no errors, no lob
5-1 for NZ
9:52pm
B4
1 out, one on 1b
2, Ono - passed ball runner to 2b - walked
5, Matsuoka, - team meeting on the mound - blue shows up without an invitation - pop fly to 2b out - two out - two on
23, lf, Suzuki, goes dwn swinging and strands two
10:06pm
5-1
T5
22, Donny Hale, goes down on a big swing
15, Rona, to the lf fence and out
1, Shannon, out
5-1 for NZ
10:15pm
B5
first bater struck out
8, Tshmura, drills one to lf for a single
6, bunt and on 1b before Manley could regain his balance, out at 1b, safe at 2 and 3.
2 out, two on
12, Harada, out
no runs on two hits no errors none lob
5-1 for NZ
Japan is out hitting NZ, but not winning the game
10:24pm
T6
another pitching change for Japan!
their pitchers are actually doing quite well against the best hitters in the world (Les Novak)
19, Kenji Nakamura
10, Casley, walks
change by NZ, Cook replaces Milne
Gareth Cook, strikes out
21, Thomas Makea, out
12, Nathan Nukunuku, pops to 3b and out
no runs on no hits, no errors, no one lob
10:35pm
Pitching change: Marty Grant in for New Zealand
B6
19, Home run - cf - did the trot and all the team rubbed his bald head when he came in
2, Ono, out
5, Matsuoka, slammed one down the centre, single
23, Suzuki, singles, almost got tagged, 2b runner takes off, almost in a run down, reaches 3b and is tagged out. 2 out
7, Oramoto, goes down swinging
one run on 3 hits, no errors, one lob
5-2 for NZ leading over Japan
10:50pm
its cooling off a bit at almost 11pm but still comfortable - some fans have gone home but still a good sized crowd enjoying this game
time to put on my ballparkradio wind shirt
T7
11, Martin struck out
14, Travis Wilson, out
22. Hale, walks
15, Brad Rona, single to cf, Hale to 3b, 2 out
1, Shannon, grounds to 3b and out at 1b
5-2 lead for NZ over Japan
Pitching change for NZ: Heinie Shannon
B7
8, Ishamura, and we have a DIP in the 7th! - the Dreaded Illegal Pitch is back (DIP) - WALKS
6, is 3-3 tonight, bounces it over Shannon and Nukes drops it, the runner is safe at 2b and the batter reached 1b
15, ss, Hazeyama, slams it down the 1b line and everyone is safe, runners on 1 and 3, 5-3 score and no one is out.
Major conference on the mound.
running at 1b no 14,
12, Harada, with no one oout and runners on the corners, strikes out after some help from 3b blue
another major conference on the Kiwi mound
19, Nakamura, slams it into the glove of Rona who immediately tags the runner there
5-3 final for NZ over Japan
11:12pm final
An excellent game to watch.
Observations: I do not think that the Black Sox played up to their full potential, maybe as nothing much was on the line but I know the Black Sox and I think that pride is always on the line. Nothing to not to be proud of but the full force of the Black Sox was not there. Then again, this was the best game I saw Japan play all week. They are great athletes and we got to see their pitching at its best. Like Les Novak said tonight, "maybe these pitchers do not know they are throwing to some of the best hitters in the world". It made for good ball to watch.
Another observation, there were a ton of Black Sox fans in the crowd tonight. They are hard core fans and I am waiting for the real fans to come out. I suspect we will see that on Friday. Tonight they were far too quiet, even too polite. Whenever Japan made a good play, the fans would applaud them with some degree of enthusiasm. That is nice but not what I expected to see, but then again it was 1996 the last time I saw the Black Sox fan club in action.
I had the pleasure of saying hello to a few of the Black Sox fans and players on my way to the parking lot leaving the park tonight. Normally when I leave the park there are only a few maintenance folks around, but tonight a great crowd had gathered on the 3b side and were enjoying some time with the team. A few recognized me and said hello which I appreciated. There is a great sense of comradery between the team and their fans. I almost felt like I was intrudinng so did not stay around and talk much, although I would have liked to.
I suspect I will see a much more active and engaged set of fans behind the Black Sox on Friday, and the remainder of the weekend.
| New Zealand | ||||||||||||||
| Japan | ||||||||||||||
| Japan | |||||||||||||||
| Hamaguchi Tatsuya | |||||||||||||||
| Murasato Kazutaka | |||||||||||||||
| Iida Kunihiko | |||||||||||||||
| Nakamura Kenji | |||||||||||||||
| Murakami Hirokazu | |||||||||||||||
| New Zealand | |||||||||||||||
| Manley Jeremy | |||||||||||||||
| Grant Marty | |||||||||||||||
| Shannon Heinie | |||||||||||||||
