NPB Highlights and Standings (week of June 8, 2003)
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks 8 - Seibu Lions 2:
Tsuyoshi Wada pitched a seven hit, eight strikeout complete game to tame the Lions at Seibu Dome. Pedro Valdes launched a fourth inning three-run homer to help the Hawks back into first place.
Orix BlueWave 4
Keiichi Yabu (6-2) beat the Dragons, allowing only two runs and five hits in 7-2/3 innings in Gifu. Yabu also hit a second inning RBI single. A brawl after the game resulted in five fans being hospitalized and fifty-three people treated for eye, nose, and throat irritation from police crowd control spray at Nagaragawa Stadium in Gifu Prefecture.
Yakult Swallows 19 - Yomiuri Giants 11:
The Swallows overpowered the Giants via home runs at Tokyo Dome. Tetsuya Iida, Ken Suzuki, and Ryuji Miyade all connected for three-run home runs for Yakult. Takayuki Saito launched a "grand salami" for the Giants. Gary Rath was ejected for throwing a pitch that hit Katsuaki Dobashi in the head. Rath also lost the ballgame.
Hiroshima Carp 5 - Yokohama BayStars 4:
Tomonori Maeda blasted a first inning two-run homer and Takuya Kimura hit a fifth inning solo home run to slip the Carp past the BayStars in Hiroshima. Chris Brock gave up only one run and six hits in five innings to notch the victory.
Nippon Professional Baseball - June 12, 2003
Central League
W L T Pct GB
41 19 1 .683 Hanshin Tigers
31 27 1 .534 9.0 Yomiuri Giants
30 28 0 .517 10.0 Yakult Swallows
30 30 0 .500 11.0 Chunichi Dragons
24 29 0 .453 13.5 Hiroshima Carp
17 40 0 .298 22.5 Yokohama BayStarsPacific League
W L T Pct GB
34 24 1 .586 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
34 25 0 .576 0.5 Kintetsu Buffaloes
30 28 1 .517 4.0 Seibu Lions
28 28 0 .500 5.0 Chiba Lotte Marines
26 31 2 .456 7.5 Nippon Ham Fighters
19 35 2 .352 13.0 Orix BlueWave
by Robert Kiysohi Shadlow
Sources: Japan Times (2003, June 12); Japan Today (2003, June 12)
The Swallows beat the Giants to climb into a second place tie with Yomiuri 9.5 games behind the Hanshin Tigers. Tetsuya Iida and Shinya Miyamoto started things off in the first inning with solo home runs for Yakult. Atsuya Furuta and Atsunori Inaba also connected for back-to back solo homers in the second inning. Furuta had a five RBI night going 4-for-5 with two home runs, including a fifth inning three-run homer off of Gary Rath. Akira Eto had a fourth inning solo home run for Yomiuri. Masanori Ishikawa (4-4) struck out four batters, yielding only one run, seven hits, and two walks for the win. Masumi Kuwata (2-2) took the loss for the "Kyojin."
Yokohama BayStars at Hiroshima Carp:
Postponed due to rain.
Nippon Professional Baseball - June 13, 2003
Central League
W L T Pct GB
41 19 1 .683 Hanshin Tigers
31 28 1 .525 9.5 Yomiuri Giants
31 28 0 .525 9.5 Yakult Swallows
30 30 0 .500 11.0 Chunichi Dragons
24 29 0 .453 13.5 Hiroshima Carp
17 40 0 .298 22.5 Yokohama BayStarsPacific League
W L T Pct GB
34 24 1 .586 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
34 25 0 .576 0.5 Kintetsu Buffaloes
30 28 1 .517 4.0 Seibu Lions
28 28 0 .500 5.0 Chiba Lotte Marines
26 31 2 .456 7.5 Nippon Ham Fighters
19 35 2 .352 13.0 Orix BlueWave
by Robert Kiyoshi Shadlow
Source: Japan Times (2003, June 13); Mainichi Daily News (2003, June 13)
Tomohiro Nioka hit two solo home runs and went 4-for-5 to lead the Kyojin over the Tigers at Koshien Stadium. Akira Eto also had a solo home run and a two-run homer for the Giants. Hisanori Takahashi (4-4) got the victory allowing only two runs and five hits in seven innings. Kentaro Sekimoto drove in both of Hanshin's runs with a home run off of Takahashi. Hideki Irabu (7-2) struck out eight batters, giving up three runs and nine hits in six innings for the loss.
Chunichi Dragons 9 - Yokohama BayStars 3:
Kazuyoshi Tatsunami led the Dragons with a two-run homer and hit 3-for-4 to beat the BayStars at Yokoham Stadium. Masafumi Hirai (2-2) notched the win yielding only one run and four hits in five innings. Domingo Guzman (4-6), who gave up Tatsunami's first inning home run, received the loss.
Seibu Lions 4 - Chiba Lotte Marines 2:
Taketoshi Goto drove in the winning run with an eigth inning pinch-hit two-run homer at Chiba Marine Stadium. Mitsutaka Goto (3-5) allowed only one run and eight hits in 7-2/3 innings for the win. Kiyoshi Toyoda pitched a perfect ninth inning to notch his 14th save of 2003. Hiroyuki Kobayashi (2-4) lost the game on the home run by Goto.
Orix BlueWave 12 - Nippon Ham Fighters 4:
The BlueWave collected 18 hits, including four hits each by Scott Sheldon and Kazuhiko Shiotani, to demolish the Fighters at Tokyo Dome. Takashi Miwa and Roosevelt Brown both had home runs off of Carlos Mirabel. Korean Koo Dae Sung (2-4) earned the victory yielding three runs and seven hits in five innings. Mirabal (7-5) gave up eight earned runs and 11 hits for the loss.
Nippon Professional Baseball - June 14, 2003
Central League
W L T Pct GB
41 20 1 .672 Hanshin Tigers
32 28 1 .533 8.5 Yomiuri Giants
31 28 0 .525 9.0 Yakult Swallows
31 30 0 .508 10.0 Chunichi Dragons
24 29 0 .453 13.0 Hiroshima Carp
17 41 0 .293 22.5 Yokohama BayStarsPacific League
W L T Pct GB
34 24 1 .586 Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
34 25 0 .576 0.5 Kintetsu Buffaloes
31 28 1 .525 3.5 Seibu Lions
28 29 0 .491 5.5 Chiba Lotte Marines
26 32 2 .448 8.0 Nippon Ham Fighters
20 35 2 .364 12.5 Orix BlueWave
by Robert Kiyoshi Shadlow
Source: Japan Times (2003, June 14)
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Source: Japan Times (2003 June 10).
Orix BlueWave 2