Swallows 1-0 BayStars

At the Jingu Stadium with the little attendance of 8,982, tonight's pitching match up between Tony Barnette of the Swallows and Hayato Terahara of the BayStars was really great. Alaska born Barnette got his first win in Japan with 7 shutout innings. He fanned 11 while giving up 3 hits and walking 3. In the 7th inning, he struck out two hitters in a row when one out and the bases a loaded situation. His running was also impressive, when he hit the routine ground ball to second. Terahara gave up just 1 run in 6 strong innings; but, he got the loss. Ryouji Aikawa's RBI double in the 3rd inning was the only run of the game. Tonight's outfielders of the BayStars was not that good defensively. That run could have been avoided. The drama of the 9th inning, what I meant by is the throwing error by Aikawa, made this game more exciting. This game was just 2 hours 38 minutes.

今夜のたった８，９８２人しか入らなかった神宮球場におけるスワローズ対横浜の試合は見応えのある投手戦になりました。スワローズの先発はアラスカ生まれのバーネット。横浜は寺原でした。バーネットは７回を投げ３被安打、３四球、１１奪三振で無失点の力投で来日初勝利。７回表の１死満塁からの２者連続三振は圧巻でした。また、２回裏の打席では平凡なセカンドゴロを打つと一塁まで全力疾走。一方の寺原も６回１失点と好投したものの、味方が零封されたので１－０で負け投手になりました。３回に飛び出した相川の２塁打で１点を取り勝ったものの、横浜の外野の守備がもう少し良ければ一塁ランナーが本塁に帰ってくる事はなかったですね。９回の相川の送球エラーはこの試合の最大の見せ場の一つでした。この試合は色々なドラマがあったもののわずか２時間３８分で終わりました。

Hanshin Tigers Lost the Game against Swallows, Again

At Jingu Stadium, Shohei Tateyama gave up four hits in eight innings and marked his winning streak at 10 since last August. When Swallows' Chang Yong Lim closed the game for his 13th save of the season, the score was Swallows 4 and Tigers 1. Tateyama(4-0) struck out just five Tigers that night, few numbers per game for him; but, he allowed just one run over those innings to get a win. He was not good at his control, surrendered four walks; however, Tigers' horrible offense could not give enough support for their starter Shinobu Fukuhara. Fukuhara(2-3) pitched five and plus strong innings, but he gave up two homeruns and got a loss.

Stadium Food:

Tako Kara(Fried Octopus)

Soki-Don(Okinawa Style Pork over Rice)

館山は制球に苦しみ、むしろ福原の方が良いくらいでした。しかし、阪神のまずい攻めが多々ありスワローズが勝ちました。スワローズの林は完璧な抑えで１３セーブ目。

Swallows vs Carp

Ken Takahashi couldn't hold three runs lead, and the Carp lost the fifth straight games on Sunday. On the other hand, Swallows won the forth straight games. It was Yukata( Japanese traditional summer cloth) Night and the Fire Works Night at the Jingu stadium. There were a lot of people out there. It was cool to ware Yukata on hot summer night. It was really fun to watch Hanabi.

Fire Works(Hanabi)

Yakisoba(Fried Noodles) & Tokyo Raamen(Tokyo Style Raamen Noodle)

French Fries & Miyazaki Ji-Dori (Grilled Miyazaki Chiken)

昨日は浴衣DAYと花火ナイターって事で神宮球場に行ってきました。浴衣を着るのは幼稚園以来でしたがいいっすねぇ。日本の夏でした。いつもの通り、食べ物もたくさん満喫しました。

Enjoy Saitama! Onsen (Hot Spring) and Lions Baseball (Seibu Dome Food)

Yesterday, I went to Chichibu(west part of Saitama Prefecture) to go to Onsen(hot spring). I went to Bukou Onsen, near Yokoze Station of Seibu Chichibu Line. It was really nice.
Entrance of the Bukou Onsen(Chichibu, Saitama)
I left the Onsen early than I wanted 'cause I wanted to see Lions vs Swallows game at Seibu Dome(Tokorozawa, Saitama). It was the first '08 Inter League game for Lions. Lions have some promotions for Inter League games. They have Inter League only Jersey. At the Dome, Concessions have Inter League only menus. That's my target for today's game other than Kaz Ishii pitched for the Lions.

Kyuukyoku no Kuro Buta-Don(Pork Bowl)
The pork of this bowl is raised in Saitama. Its rice is blended 50 brands of rice(Can you tell what kinds of rice they are using by just watching the right side picture?). The Saitama Pork is really tasty. I wasn't sure about blended brands' rice; but, this one was really good. I just didn't know blended brands' rice could be good as this one before. You can eat this during Inter League only, and it's limited for only 30 serves per game.

Pork Stick(Buta Kushi Yaki)
This one is really nice baked pork. You can eat this entire season.

I also ate Katsu-Jyuu(Pork Cutlet Bowl) , Tori Kara-Age(Fried Chicken), and Frankfurt Sausage(Sausage Stick). All of them are really great, as always at the Seibu Dome. But, I really ate too much. Two rice Bowls and three other Tsumami(Side Dishes) for a game were too much for me, they were great taste though.

I was so amazed by the home run of Craig Brazell to tie the game in the 5th; but, Lions lost the game after Chikara Onodera gave up a run in the 6th.

今日は埼玉を満喫しました！秩父で温泉に入った後、所沢でライオンズの試合を観戦。交流戦限定メニューの究極の黒豚丼を筆頭に、球場フードもおいしかった！この日は豚づくしって感じで、黒豚丼の他に豚串焼き、熱れつ亭のかつ重、フランクフルトを食べました。豚以外には、熱れつ亭のから揚げを食べました。ライオンズが負けたのは残念だったけど、最高の一日でした。

Let's Go to Pre-Season Baseball Games in Japan

Hello.
Thanks for reading my blog. This blog is mainly about Japanese baseball.
2008 season will start soon！ There are pre-season games going on around Japan now. In Jingu Stadium, there will be a game between Swallows and Lions at the Meiji Jingu Stadium on Sunday, March 9th(13:00). Former Dodger, Kaz Ishii will pitch at Jingu for the first time since he left the Tokyo Yakult for Saitama. Rookie phenom, Mikinori Katoh will pitch for the Swallows. This is going to be a fun game for both Swallows and Lions funs!! I am not sure that those great concession stands will be opened that day. Most of concessions were closed during most of pre-season games at Jingu in 2007, although they sold beer. If you are Swallows fun-club member, you can see this game for free!!!
Jingu Stadium at Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo (This picture's taken on 03/09/2008)
2008年のプロ野球もやっと開幕です！今度の日曜日１３：００に神宮で行われるスワローズ対ライオンズ戦では、加藤と石井一久の先発が予想されています。今から楽しみです！！けど、売店がやってないかもしれないと思うと、ちょっと悲しいです。去年の神宮でのほとんどのオープン戦では、大半の売店が営業してなかった記憶があります。ウィンナーが食べたいなー。