 Golden Eagles open Japanese Play-Offs with shutout
Nederlands
 SENDAI (Japan) -
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, the team of Dutch designated hitter Andruw Jones, opened the 6-game series of the best-of-seven Final in the Pacific League Climax Series with a 2-0 shutout vs. Chiba Lotte Marines on Thursday-evening (October 17).
As winner of the regular season in the Pacific League, the Golden Eagles began with an one-win advantage, meaning the team from sendai now leads 2-0.
The Golden Eagles got runners on base in the first and second inning, but then left two runners.
In the first at bat, Ginji Akaminai walked with two outs, but pitcher Yoshihisa Naruse then struckout Andruw Jones.
In the second inning, Shintaro Masuda doubled with one out, but also stranded.
The Golden Eagles then opened the score in the fourth inning when Ginji Akaminai led off with a homerun.
Andruw Jones followed with a double and advanced on a single by Casey McGehee.
However, a double play and strikeout then ended the inning.
In the sixth inning, the team left two runners, then the Marines turned another double play in the seventh.
The Golden Eagles then added the second run in the eighth inning.
Takero Okajima led off with a single off of new pitcher Wil Ledezma and moved on a sacrifice bunt by Kazuya Fujita.
Ginji Akaminai then walked, which brought in new pitcher Yuji Nishino.
With runners on first and third base, he struckout Andruw Jones, but then gave up a single to Casey McGehee that brought in Okajima and made it 2-0.
Masahiro Tanaka went the distance for the Golden Eagles.
He struckout nine batters, walked only one and gave up seven basehits.
The Marines got four runners in scoring position in the game, but Tanaka was supported with two double plays.
(October 17)
|
