Can't Win if You Can't Hit - July 7, 2013

The day after winning their first game at Tokyo Dome since 2011, Yokohama's offense fell back to sleep. In fact, the Giants' Toshiya Sugiuchi was so effective that it wasn't until the 7th inning that the BayStars were able to get a man as far as second base. And that was only because Norihiro Nakamura showed good patience and drew the only walk allowed by Sugiuchi through 8 innings on the day.

Okay, so we drew a walk. Anything else?

BayStars' starting pitcher Daisuke Miura hit a base hit up the middle in the 3rd inning to become Yokohama's first base runner. The next base runner was Nyjer Morgan, who singled to left an out before Nori's walk in the 7th inning.

Yokohama did get a pair of base runners in the 9th inning when Tetsuya Yamaguchi walked the first two 'Stars he faced. But a strike out and double play ended the game, Yamaguchi getting his 3rd save of the season.

It would be nice to say that Miura performed as well on the mound as he did in the batter's box, but that would be a lie. Miura allowed base runners in each of the 7 innings he pitched, allowing 10 hits, walking 2 and hitting a batter while striking out 7.

Amazingly, Miura only allowed 2 runs, both coming in on the 2-run home run by Daisuke Nakai with 2 outs in the fourth inning. John Bowker's fly ball to right with a runner on second in the bottom of the seventh somehow fell into right fielder Sho Aranami's glove with his back against the wall.

So, which was the more impressive outing? Allowing just 2 runs on 10 hits by Miura or allowing just 2 hits by Sugiuchi? Well, Sugi gets the win, 2-0, so that may be the answer.