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。

Chiba Marine Stadium

After the Lions and Eagles game on Saturday, I actually went to Chiba Marine Stadium to see the game between Hawks and Marines. My friends kindly offered me a ticket to see the game with them; however, I arrived at the stadium around 8pm. It was fifth inning. That was the first time I came to that stadium since 1998. I am surprised that it had huge crowd that evening. I'd tried to buy some foods from concessions; but, either I had to wait really long lines, or they were out of stock. Although I really wanted to eat Philly Cheese Stake, one of my favorite, they are sold out. I also couldn't get foods from concession stands at the Seibu Dome 'cause of the long lines and I didn't wanna miss a thing. I've learned that if I want to enjoy foods from the stadiums, I really need to get there early.I got a cup of beer, cheese ball, and Yoshihisa Naruse's recommended Marine Dog, which doesn't contain any sea stuff. They use Marines original designed cups for foods and drinks. I believe it is not that usual in the Japanese ballpark. The desings of cups were so cool that they would be collectable items. 　

Marine Dog recommended by Naruse

A cup of Cheese BallsA cup of Beer

I saw really unusual things. Benny Agbayani hit two triples in that game.

心優しい友人のカップルが招待してくれていたので、土曜の昼に所沢でデー・ゲームを観戦した後に千葉マリンスタジアムに行きました。マリンスタジアムは落合の現役最終試合を見て以来でした。ライオンズの試合が終わったのが17：30頃で、そこから１８：００開始のマリーンズ戦に行ったので、球場に着いたのは２０：００頃でした。球場の食べ物がほとんど売り切れか長い行列に並ばなければならなかったので、あまり買えませんでした。それでも上の写真にある成瀬推薦のマリンドッグ、もちもちチーズ（とかいう名前のと）、ビールを買いました。マリーンズ使用の容器はおみやげに持って帰りたいくらいかっこいいと思いました。

Lions vs Eagles

I went to Lions against Eagles at Tokorozawa yesterday. It was really good game with two good starting pitchers of Takayuki Kishi (Lions) and Masahiro "Maa-kun" Tanaka (Eagles). I saw Kishi's warming up in the bullpen before the game. I realized he was really different that day from his usual warming ups in the bullpen. He was really energized that day. He pitched really good in the game too. He looks like he has determined to win the ballgame. I've never seen him like that before. He threw really good fastball from the hill. His fast ball recorded 90 mph entire game. It was really unusual for him. His usual fastball is 86 mph. He threw seven strong innigs and got a win.

Eiji Shoutu made really good relief job in the 8th and Alex Graman got a save as Eagles' Shima hit a grounder to Second baseman Hiroshi Hirao .

This game was a part of the Lions Classic. Yasumitsu Toyoda and Katsuya Nomura did ceremonial pitch. When I saw it, I thought I would cry. It was really good emotional ceremony.

Yasumitsu Toyoda's ceremonial pitchToyoda shook hands with Katsuya Nomura

昨日の岸はブルペンから違っていました。投球練習中からいつもと違って気合が入っていました。ゲーム中もストレートが時速１４５ｋｍを記録するなど、速球で押す力投を披露。７回を１失点で勝利投手になりました。この日は正津も好リリーフを見せました。最後はグラマンが嶋を二ゴロに。代わったばかりの平尾が捌いて試合終了。

今日もライオンズクラシックでたくさんのお客さんでした。豊田泰光と野村克也の始球式は泣きそうになるくらい感動でした。

Saitama Baseball Festival! 埼玉野球まつり!

It was Saitama Baseball Festival on last Friday. Lions held the game against the Marines at Omiya. Craig Brazell's homerun, which reached to Nack 5 Stadium, was amazing! Even though it was such a small ballpark, that was the best homerun I have ever seen!

From L: Lina, Kobaton(Saitama Prefecture's Mascot), Leo

Hiroshi Hirao(8), who was born and raised in Saitama, got biggest fan support that evening

行ってきました！大宮で行われた埼玉野球まつりのライオンズ対マリーンズ戦。ブラゼルのホームランすごかった！凄まじい打球をNACK５スタジアムにぶち込みました。埼玉出身のライオンズ選手は大きな声援を受けていましたが、中でも平尾に大きな声援が送られていました。カメラのフラッシュの数も一番多かったです。彼が打席に入った時は感動しました。

Steroid

It was sad for Daniel Rios to be suspended for a year. I am not sure what's happened about it; but, it's not fair for only four players per game to be tested for doping. All players should be tested. It's so strange to me that only non-Japanese playes got suspended for this issue.

リオスがドーピングでヤクルトを解雇されました。けど、一試合あたり各２人しか検査の対象にならないので、選手全員が調査対象になっていません。色々な事情があるにせよ、厳格性が欠けているような気がしますし、検査の対象にならずにバレていない選手がいるかもしれない事を考えると、発覚した選手はかわいそうな気がします。

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。