Can't Score, Can't Win - June 5, 2013

As the old saying goes, you can't win if you can't score. After scoring 11 runs on Sunday, the BayStars have only managed to score 1 run since, that being on Monday. Veteran pitcher Miura Daisuke allows 2 runs on just 5 hits, never giving me the impression of a pending home run (as was the case in his last outing), but with no run support, drops to 3 and 5.

Starting for SoftBank was Kazuyuki Hoashi. While Miura looked very good scattering 5 hits over 8 innings, Hoashi looked every bit as good, but scattering just 3 hits over 7 innings. The first inning, after a leadoff single by Tatsuhiko Kinjoh then having him sacrificed to second, was the biggest pinch of the night for Hoashi, as not a single BayStar got as far as second base until after Hoashi had been taken out for a pinch hitter in the top of the 8th inning.

The 0-2 loss marked the 6th time this season that Yokohama has been shutout. Amazingly, it's the first time they've been shutout since Inter-league play began. And while they once again drop down to a season low 9 games under .500, Yokohama remains in 3rd place in the Central League. Chunichi, Yakult, and Hiroshima are all 10 games under .500.