Hiroshima Defeats Hanshin in Ninth Inning
October 1, 2023, 6:00am – Mazda Stadium
By [Journalist’s Name]
In a thrilling showdown between Hiroshima and Hanshin, Hiroshima emerged victorious in the top of the ninth inning. With two outs and a runner on first base, Teru Sato, who had previously been unable to get a hit, retreated to the bench with a visibly frustrated expression.
The game took place at Mazda Stadium, and although it did not determine who Hanshin would face in the finals, it was still a moment worthy of attention. Particularly intriguing was the performance of the two teams at different stadiums throughout the season.
DeNA, who proved to be a formidable opponent for Hanshin, seemed to give them the most trouble. With a game record of 13 wins, 12 losses, and one save against them, it is evident that Hanshin struggled against DeNA. Despite winning a “perfect championship” by defeating all five teams, it is clear that DeNA presented a significant challenge.
When playing at Yokohama Stadium, Hanshin struggled early on, with a record of 5 wins and 7 losses. At home, they managed to secure eight wins and five losses, including one save. However, it is important to note that three of these wins were at Kyocera Dome Osaka and one at Kurashiki Muscat. In contrast, at Koshien, they had a losing record of 4 wins and 5 losses.
While it is difficult to determine the direct impact of a stadium on wins or losses, it is worth noting that this season presented rare moments of negativity for a team that demonstrated significant strength in the league. On the other hand, Hanshin had a considerable advantage over Hiroshima at Koshien, with 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. This suggests that DeNA could potentially be a more challenging opponent in the finals if Hanshin progresses.
However, Hanshin did suffer a loss to Hiroshima in the first stage of the playoffs, as did DeNA. As such, the upcoming battles are sure to be different from the regular season, presenting definite short-term challenges. There is no room for complacency.
One standout moment from the game against Hiroshima was Teru Sato’s base running in the closing moments. In the ninth inning, with two outs and a runner on first base, Yoshihiro Kuribayashi hit a ball that went up between the pitcher and shortstop, but was unable to catch it, resulting in the ball hitting the ground. Masaya Yano fielded the ball swiftly and threw it to Teru Sato, who made it to first base. Yano couldn’t help but give a fist pump in celebration.
Looking back, with a sprint from the start, Teru Sato might have been able to reach the base safely. Some may call it “negligence,” but in such high-pressure situations, it is difficult to determine the necessary actions. As previously stated, it is impossible to maintain constant tension throughout a game.
Nevertheless, it is important to consider the significance of being able to run, regardless of winning or losing. If a player cannot execute a run in a critical moment, there is no guarantee they will be able to do so when it truly matters. This raises the question of whether each player possesses that level of “fear,” which ultimately determines their performance. (Honorary title omitted) – [Hisao Takahara] (Nikkan Sports.com/Baseball Column “Tiger, Tiger, Become a Tiger!”)
October 1, 2023, 6:00am Hiroshima vs. Hanshin In the top of the 9th inning, Hanshin 2 out, 1st base, Teru Sato, who became the last batter after grounding out, retreats to the bench with a frustrated look on his face (Photo by Hiroshi Ueda)
I feel DeNA will hold out as well. Will the first leg of the CS be at Mazda Stadium or Yokohama Stadium? First, let’s talk about the stadium, and while it’s not a battle to decide who Hanshin will face in the finals, it’s still worth paying attention to.
Which would be better for Hanshin to emerge victorious? I feel like there are some pretty clear numbers on that. The opponent that gave Hanshin the most trouble this season was DeNA.
It’s obvious if you look at the results of the game. His game record is 13 wins, 12 losses, and he has one save. However, considering that they won a “perfect championship” by defeating all five teams, it can be said that they had a tough time against them.
At the Yokohama Stadium, where they were on a losing streak in the early stages, they trailed with a record of 5 wins and 7 losses. They have won three games at home with eight wins and five losses, resulting in one save. However, this includes a total of four wins, including three wins at Kyocera Dome Osaka, where they had the opening three games, and one win at Kurashiki Muscat. As far as Koshien is concerned, they have a losing record of 4 wins and 5 losses.
It is difficult to say whether the stadium has a direct effect on wins or losses, but such a negative factor is rarely seen this season, when the team showed tremendous strength in the league. On the other hand, they had a big advantage over Hiroshima in Koshien with 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw. If that goes well, I feel like DeNA could be a worse opponent in the finals.
However, they lost once to Hiroshima in the first stage of the CS. The same goes for DeNA. In any case, this is a definite short-term battle that is different from the season. There was no way I could let my garden down.
What made me think “Wow” was Teruaki Sato’s base running at the end of the game against Hiroshima. In the 9th inning, trailing by one run, there were two outs and a man on first base. Yoshihiro Kuribayashi could not catch the hit that went up between the pitcher and the shortstop, and fell to the ground. Masaya Yano dealt with this quickly and hit Teru Sato to first base. Yano gave a fist pump.
Teru Sato might have been safe if he had sprinted from the start. It can be called “negligence,” but it is difficult to say whether such a thing is necessary in the current situation. As I wrote before, it is impossible to have a game where the tension is always high.
Still, here’s what I think. No matter if you win or lose, if you can’t run there, you might not be able to do it when you really need to. The question is whether every single player has that much “fear” for themselves. I think that’s what matters. (Honorary title omitted)[Hisao Takahara](Nikkan Sports.com/Baseball Column “Tiger, Tiger, Become a Tiger!”)
Hiroshima vs Hanshin Top of the 9th inning Hanshin with 2 outs and 1st base, Teru Sato, the last batter due to a groundout, retires to the bench with a frustrated expression (Photo by Hiroshi Ueda) Hiroshima vs Hanshin Top of the 9th inning Hanshin with 2 outs and 1st base, Teru Sato gets a groundout The game ended when he fell down (Photo by Ya Kato) This column contains back issues.
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