Results on September, 1996


Standing at the end of September


Results on September 1

Results on September 2

Results on September 3

Results on September 4

Results on September 5

Results on September 6

Results on September 7

Results on September 8

Results on September 10

Results on September 11

Results on September 12

Results on September 13

Results on September 14

Results on September 15

Results on September 16

Results on September 17

Results on September 18

Results on September 19

Results on September 20

Results on September 21

Results on September 22

Results on September 23

Results on September 24

Results on September 25

Results on September 26

Results on September 27

Results on September 28

Results on September 29


[Results on September 1]

Carp       | 0 0 0   0 0 0   3 0 5 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 1   1 1 0   0 0 0 | 3

	WP: Tamaki, S.	(1W 1L)
	LP: Tokano	(3L)
	HR: C Machida 6, Nomura 11
	    YB Komada 7

[The Carp turned the game in late innings.  In the 7th,
 runners on first and second with two outs, Machida got
 a 3-run homer to tie the game.  In the 9th, Asaki got
 a game-winning triple.  Nomura also got a two-run homer,
 which hit the right foul pole]


Giants     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 2 0   1 3 0   0 0 X | 6

	WP: Imanaka	(12W 6L)
	LP: Galvez	(14W 4L)

[Mack hit the fourth in batting order on behalf of Ochiai.
 In the 5th, Galvez hit the 8th batter Nakamura with two
 outs.  But he gave up a double for Imanaka and the Dragons
 scored another run with an error.  Imanaka pitched a complete
 game and the Dragons still have hope to win the pennant]


Marines    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 3 1 0   0 4 0   0 0 X | 8

	WP: Toyoda	(5W 4L)
	LP: Yabuta	(3W 3L)
	HR: L Ohtomo 2, Jackson 16

[Toyoda pitched his career first shutout game.
 The lead-off Ohtomo got a homer in the first inning,
 and Jackson got a 3-run in the 5th]


Hawks      | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 1 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 4   0 0 0   1 0 X | 5

	WP: Hoshino	(11W 5L)
	Sv: Nomura	(3W 1L 4S)
	LP: Fujii	(3L)
	HR: H Kokubo 20

[In the 3rd inning, the Blue Wave scored 4 runs with
 a double of Taguchi, a wild pitch, and a walk on bases
 loaded.  The game of the Fighters was rained out so
 they lead the Fighters by one game now]


[Results on September 2]

Marines    | 0 0 1   1 0 0   0 1 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 0 0 2   0 0 0   1 1 X | 4

	WP: Shintani	(8W 4L 2S)
	Sv: Ishii, Taka.	(3W 6L 1S)
	LP: Komiyama	(5W 12L)
	Hd: L Sugiyama
	HR: M Chamberlain 9, Nimura 4
	    L Sasaki 9, Itoh 5, Suzuki,K. 14

[Komiyama pitched well but couldn't win again.  Chamberlain
 and Nimura got a homer in the 4th and 8th to tie the game,
 but in the bottom of the 8th, he made bad throwing to first
 after Itoh singled to left field.  First runner Itoh advanced
 to third.  After two outs, Komiyama gave up an infield hit for
 Ohtomo]


[Results on September 3]

Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 1 1   1 0 1 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Kawajiri	(9W 8L 1S)
	Sv: Kakuri	(7W 9L 13S)
	LP: Katoh	(7W 7L)
	HR: C Maeda 15

[Kuji got a RBI single in the 5th to tie the game.
 In the 6th, Hirao successed safety squeeze to
 go ahead.  Kawajiri went to the end of the 8th,
 allowing 5 hits.  The Carp went down from the top]


BayStars   | 0 0 1   0 0 1   0 0 0   0 | 2
-----------+---------------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   1 0 1   0 0 0   1 | 3

	WP: Kohno	(6W 1L 1S)
	LP: Saitoh,T.	(9W 8L)
	HR: YB Suzuki 12
	    G Matsui 35, Gotoh 2

[Saitoh Takashi allowed only four hits, but he lost.
 Gotoh, the lead-off of the 10th inning, got a game-
 ending homerun near the right foul pole.
 In the 8th, batted ball by Matsui hit the roof of
 the Tokyo Dome and was caught by RF Braggs.  According
 to the local rule of the Tokyo Dome on the roof,
 Matsui was called out.  If there were not the roof,
 then it might be hit or go over the wall (of course,
 Braggs might get it even if there were not).
     Ochiai's injury has been turned out to be complete
 broken bone, so it seems to be hard for him to play
 in regular season]


Dragons    | 3 0 0   0 0 0   0 2 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 1 0   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 2

	WP: Noguchi	(4W 3L)
	LP: Ishii,K.	(3L)
	HR: D Coles 25, Yamasaki 35, Coles 26
	    S Furuta 9

[In the first inning, Coles got a solo homer and
 Yamasaki a 2-run homer.  Coles got a 2-run homer
 also in the 8th.  Noguchi, who hit Ochiai, didn't
 allow no walks nor hit batter and pitched a complete
 game]


Marines    | 0 0 0   0 1 0   1 5 0 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 1 0 0   0 0 0   3 0 0 | 4

	WP: Kawamoto	(4W 3L 9S)
	LP: Takeda	(15W 6L)
	HR: M Whitmore 9
	    H Ohmichi 7

[In the 7th, Ohmichi got a 3-run homer off Narimoto,
 so Takeda seemed to get his 16th win.  But suddenly
 he became very bad in the 8th]


Buffaloes  | 0 1 0   0 1 0   2 2 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 3 0 4   0 0 0   1 4 X |12

	WP: Noda	(8W 6L)
	Sv: Hirai	(3W 2L 5S)
	LP: Yamasaki	(5W 11L)
	Hd: BW Watanabe,N.
	HR: Bu C.D 18, Rhodes 23
	    BW Fujii 16, Neel 29, Baba 4

[The Blue Wave scored 7 run with only three hits till
 the third inning.  In the 8th, Neel and Baba got
 back-to-back homers after Hirai pitched well in the top
 of the same inning]


Fighters   | 0 0 4   0 0 0   1 0 0   0 | 5
-----------+---------------------------+--
Lions      | 2 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 0   1 | 6

	WP: Shiozaki	(6W 6L 8S)
	LP: Shimoyanagi	(1W 2L 1S)
	HR: F Tanaka 20
	    L Kiyohara 24, Jackson 17

[In the bottom of the 10th,  runners were on first and
 second with two outs.  The Fighter outfielders fielded
 in shallow to kill the runner at the plate, but the
 batted ball by Itoh went a little over the head of LF
 Ducey.  The difference of games lost between the Fighters
 and the Blue Wave becomes now four, and that of tie games
 is two.  It seems to me that the Blue Wave have great
 advantage.

 The Lions have fired Cooper today]


[Results on September 4]

Tigers     | 0 2 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 4 0 0   0 0 0   3 0 X | 7

	WP: Yamasaki	(9W 3L)
	LP: Furumizo	(3W 5L 3S)
	HR: T Hirao 2
	    C Kanemoto 24

[Furumizo was bad.  He allowed Kanomoto's 3-run
 homer in the first inning.  In the bottom of the
 6th, Carp manager Mimura and SS Nomura was ejected
 complaining and hitting the first base umpire on
 called out.  Inspite of their eject, the Carp got
 3 runs in the 8th inning to come back to the top.
 Now there is no hope for the Tigers to win the
 pennnat in this season]


BayStars   | 1 2 1   3 0 0   0 0 1 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 2 0 | 2

	WP: Sekiguchi	(2W 4L)
	Sv: Sasaki	(4W 3L 22S)
	LP: Makihara	(4W 6L)
	HR: YB Komada 8, Rose 13

[Giant starter Makihara was too bad.  Awano was also
 bad.  In the 8th, Sekiguchi, who seems to pitch a
 shutout game, suddenly became bad.  He walked
 Matsui and Mack on bases loaded with one out.  So
 the Bay Stars sent Sasaki, who stopped the Giants]


Dragons    | 1 0 0   3 0 0   1 2 0 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 1 0 0   1 0 0   0 1 0 | 3

	WP: Kadokura	(4W 1L)
	LP: Bross	(7W 12L)
	HR: D Powell 12, Hikono 8

[Bross allowed 4 runs in four innings with his own
 error.  Now the Dragons stand in 2 1/2 games behind
 of the top]


Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 1 0 0   0 0 4   3 4 X |12

	WP: Fraser	(7W 2L)
	LP: Aquino	(9W 7L)
	HR: Bu Nakane 8
	    BW Ichiro 14, D.J 11, Neel 30

[The Blue Wave blew out the Buffaloes.
 In the 6th, Ichiro and D.J got a 2-run homer,
 and in the 7th, Neel got a 3-run homer]


[Results on September 5]

Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 1 0 0   0 0 0   1 2 X | 4

	WP: Yamauchi	(11W 7L)
	LP: Yufune	(5W 11L 2S)
	HR: C Machida 7, Lopez 22

[Yamauchi pitched a shutout game, allowing three hits.
 In the top of the first inning, Wada singled and Kuji
 successed hit-and-run play but Wada was thrown out
 at third base.  After that no Tiger player went
 to second.  In the bottom of the 7th and 8th,
 Machida and Lopez got a solo-homer.  The Carp scored
 the 4th run with squeeze of Koh]


Dragons    | 0 0 4   0 0 0   2 0 2 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Maeda	(7W 4L)
	LP: Tabata	(10W 11L 1S)
	HR: D Powell 13
	    S Meulens 23

[Powell got a grand slam in the 4th.  He went 4 for 5
 and drove 6 runs in.  Maeda pitched a complete game
 since three years ago]


[Results on September 6]

Dragons    | 0 2 0   0 0 0   0 0 2 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Yamamoto	(5W 9L 1S)
	LP: Yabu	(10W 10L)

[Five Dragon pitchers shut the Tigers out.
 In the second inning, Yabu hit Yamasaki with
 his head and Yamasaki couldn't play no more.
 Yabu was also ejected automatically, and relief
 pitcher Yuminaga allowed one hit and two grounders,
 and the Dragon scored two runs]


Marines    | 3 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 1 0   0 0 0   0 4 1 | 6

	WP: Suzuki	(7W 2L 17S)
	LP: Kawamoto	(4W 4L)
	HR: M Hori 13
	    BW Ogawa 9

[The Blue Wave turned the game in late innings.  In fact,
 they blew out Narimoto and Kawamoto, whom are called
 'Moto-brothers' by Hillman so Hillman missed a win.
 In the 9th, Ogawa got a game-ending homerun off Kawamoto.
 Ichiro was ejected because of hit by pitch in the 7th
 inning from Hillman.  Now the Blue Wave lead the Fighters
 by 3.5 games]


Lions      | 1 0 1   0 1 0   0 0 1 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 1 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Shiozaki	(7W 6L 8S)
	Sv: Ishii, Taka.	(3W 6L 2S)
	LP: Sakai	(7W 12L)
	Hd: L Hashimoto Sugiyama
	HR: L Kiyohara 25, Suzuki,K. 16

[The Lion relievers were good.  Starter Kaku was
 removed in the 5th (he went 4.1 innings, 0.2 less than 5),
 but the others didn't allowed any runs]


Hawks      | 3 0 0   0 0 0   3 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Kudoh	(8W 12L)
	LP: Iwamoto	(9W 8L)
	HR: H Akiyama 9
	    F Kaneko, M. 4

[The Hawks scored 3 runs in the 7th inning just
 after they allowed one run in the previous inning.
 Hamana successed the squeeze bunt and Akiyama got
 a 2-run homer.  Kudoh pitched a complete game]


[Results on September 7]

Dragons    | 0 1 0   0 0 0   3 0 1 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 3 0 1   0 3 0   0 2 X | 9

	WP: Funaki	(5W 8L)
	Sv: Kakuri	(7W 9L 14S)
	LP: Imanaka	(12W 7L)
	HR: D Taihoh 34, Coles 27, Oto 11
	    T Shinjyo 15

[The Tigers blew Imanaka out.  In the first inning,
 Shinjyo got a 3-run homer.  Till the 5th, they
 scored 7 runs in total.  In the 8th, Sekikawa tripled
 off Sun, and the Tigers got 2 runs.  Kakuri got a
 save.  It was too bad for the Dragons to lost the Tigers
 with Imanaka]


Swallows   | 0 1 0   2 0 0   2 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Yoshii	(10W 6L)
	LP: Miura	(5W 8L)
	HR: S Meulens 24

[Yoshii pitched a shutout game.  The Swallow batters
 got 13 hits but the number of LOB was 16]


Giants     | 1 0 0   0 0 0   2 2 0   0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------------+--
Carp       | 1 0 0   0 0 4   0 0 0   0 1 | 6

	WP: Tamaki, S.	(2W 1L)
	LP: Kawaguchi	(4L)
	HR: G Matsui 36

[In the 11th inning, Kida, who threw only 3 pitches,
 pitched the wild pitch which brought win for the Carp.
 In the bottom of the 6th,  Carp manager Mimura sent
 a PR for the clean-up Lopez, and the Carp got 4 runs
 off Galvez.  But the Giants made comeback in late innings.
 Nagashima also sent a PH for the second catcher Murata,
 so he had to put poor exprienced catcher Takami.  He failed
 to bunt in the 10th and coundn't catch the wild pitch]


Marines    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 3 0 0   1 0 1   0 1 X | 6

	WP: Hoshino	(12W 5L)
	LP: Yabuta	(3W 4L)
	HR: M Whitmore 10
	    BW D.J 12,  13, Fujii 17

[It was the day of D.J (Doug Jennings).  He
 went 4 for 4 and drove 3 runs in.  Hoshino
 pitched a complete game and now the Blue Wave
 lead by 4.5 games.  Ichiro came back to the
 line-up, but he went 0 for 4]


Lions      | 0 0 0   2 0 1   1 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   5 0 0   0 0 X | 5

	WP: Koike	(3W 3L)
	Sv: Akahori	(8W 4L 16S)
	LP: Nishiguchi	(12W 10L)
	Hd: Bu Sano
	HR: L Kiyohara 26

[The Buffaloe pitchers managed to keep the lead.
 The Buffaloe batters hit only one except for the
 4th inning]


Hawks      | 0 0 1   4 0 0   4 0 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 1   1 0 0   2 0 3 | 7

	WP: Fujii	(1W 3L)
	Sv: Yoshitake	(4W 12L 1S)
	LP: Gross	(14W 9L)
	Hd: H Sakumoto
	HR: H Yoshinaga 18

[Gross was too bad.  Figheter reliever Shimoyanagi
 pitched well but the only hit he allowed was a
 grand slam by Yoshinaga in the 7th inning.  The
 Fighters made great comeback, in paticular, in the
 9th, they scored 3 runs and still runners were on
 first and second with two outs.  The batter was
 Brito, who hit fifth in batting order because of slump.
 There was a wild pitch so the runners advanced one base,
 but Brito grounded out to thirdbaseman]


[Results on September 8]

Dragons    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 2 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 2 0   0 0 1   2 0 X | 5

	WP: Kawajiri	(10W 8L 1S)
	Sv: Furumizo	(3W 5L 4S)
	LP: Noguchi	(4W 4L)
	HR: T Hirao 3

[The Tigers got 10 hits and won.  In the 9th,  Kakuri
 again pitched but he allowed two hits and two walks
 when Furumizo relieved.  Furumizo allowed another
 run with a grounder but managed to save the team]


Swallows   | 2 0 1   1 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 | 6
-----------+-------------------------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 0   1 0 2   2 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 | 5

	WP: Takatsu	(2W 5L 18S)
	LP: Kawahara	(1L)

[The second longest game in Japan, 6:19.  In the 14th,
 Miyamoto Shinya singled on bases loaded.  Takatsu
 pitched 88 pitches in 9th thru 14th.  In the 9th,
 when Takatsu appeared, the Bay Stars had a chance
 of runners on first and third with one out.  The batter
 got a bloop hit in front of the LF, but somehow the
 Bay Stars couldn't win.  The third runner was killed
 at the plate, and the first runner was thrown out at
 the third base]


Marines    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 2 0   0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 1 0   0 2 | 4

	WP: Hirai	(4W 2L 5S)
	LP: Kawamoto	(4W 5L 9S)
	HR: BW Neel 31

[Neel got a game-ending homerun.  In the bottom
 of the 8th inning, Sonokawa allowed a clutch hit
 of Takahashi and couldn't win again.  Wes Chamberlain
 has been out of the starters since today because of
 his cool streak]


Lions      | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 3   1 0 0   0 2 X | 6

	WP: Yamasaki	(6W 11L)
	LP: Toyoda	(5W 5L)
	HR: Bu Mizuguchi 7, Arai 2

[The Buffaloes defeated the Lions.  In the 3rd
 inning, Mizuguchi and Arai got back-to-back homers.
 The Buffaloes got 12 hits in total.  Yamasaki
 pitched a complete game allowing only 4 hits]


Hawks      | 0 0 0   1 0 0   2 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 2 2 0   0 0 1   0 0 X | 5

	WP: Shibakusa	(6W 6L)
	Sv: Shimoyanagi	(1W 2L 2S)
	LP: Kimura	(1W 6L 5S)
	HR: H Kokubo 21
	    F Ishimoto 1

[The Fighters finally stopped their losing streak.
 Shimoyanagi pitched for the last three innnings
 very well.  Ishimoto, who hit the lead-off today
 and is still 23 years old, got a 2-run homer in
 the second inning]


[Results on September 10]

Giants     | 4 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 1 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Saitoh,M.	(14W 4L)
	LP: Yabu	(10W 11L)

[Yabu was too bad in the first inning.  He allowed
 four hits in a row when runner was on first with
 two outs.  Saitoh pitched a shutout game.  Acutually
 he didn't allow third runner]


BayStars   | 2 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 2 0   0 0 0   0 0 2 | 4

	WP: Kadokura	(5W 1L)
	LP: Tokano	(4L)
	HR: D Taihoh 35, Nakamura 11

[Nakamura got a game-ending 2-run homer.  Kadokura
 allowed 4 hits and 2 runs in the first inning, but
 he pitched a complete game to win.  The Dragons
 still have hope to win the pennant]


Swallows   | 0 0 1   3 0 0   0 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 0 0 1   0 1 0   0 3 X | 5

	WP: Tamaki, S.	(3W 1L)
	Sv: Sasaoka	(4W 5L 21S)
	LP: Matsumoto, Shi.	(3W 4L)
	HR: C Nomura 12, Ogata 23

[In the bottom of the 8th, runners on first and
 second with one out, Ogata got a game-winning
 three-run homer.  The Carp won four games in a row]


Lions      | 4 0 1   0 0 0   1 0 3 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 1 0 2   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 4

	WP: Shintani	(9W 4L 2S)
	Sv: Shiozaki	(7W 6L 9S)
	LP: Kuroki	(6W 7L)
	HR: L Suzuki,K. 17,  18, Kiyohara 27
	    M Hori 14, Whitmore 11

[Kuroki was too bad.  Marine reliever Mutoh
 pitched well, but the third Marine pitcher
 Yoshida allowed a homer of Suzuki in the 7th.
 He also gave up a 3-run homer for Kiyohara
 in the 9th]


BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 1 0 | 2

	WP: Fraser	(8W 2L)
	Sv: Hirai	(4W 2L 6S)
	LP: Nishizaki	(14W 6L)
	Hd: BW Nomura Suzuki
	HR: BW D.J 14
	    F Ducey 22

[The Blue Wave won with a 3-run homer by D.J so that
 they finally have Magic number 9 (In Japan, you can't
 say Magic number until any other teams can't win the
 pennant by themselves).  The Figher manager Ueda has
 stopped managing since today because of the problem
 in his family.  He didn't say what is the problem,
 but he said that he can't have slept well recently.
 Sumitomo is now the proxy manager]


Buffaloes  | 2 0 0   0 2 0   0 0 0   1 | 5
-----------+---------------------------+--
Hawks      | 0 1 2   0 1 0   0 0 0   0 | 4

	WP: Sano	(4W 2L 7S)
	Sv: Akahori	(8W 4L 17S)
	LP: Takeda	(15W 7L)
	HR: Bu Arai 3
	    H Jojima 1

[Takeda, who tried his 16th win, pitched a complete game
 but Rhodes got a game-winning hit in the 10th.  Johjima,
 who is the homerun king of the Western league (minor),
 got his first homerun]


[Results on September 11]

Giants     | 0 0 0   4 0 0   0 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 1 1   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Makihara	(5W 6L)
	Sv: Kohno	(6W 1L 2S)
	LP: Yufune	(5W 12L 2S)
	HR: G Mack 19

[Yufune lost with a 3-run homer by Mack.
 He allowed 2 hits and one walk in the top
 of the 4th so the Giants had chance of
 runners on first and second with no outs,
 the score was 1-2 for the Giants.  Mack hit
 a slider and the batted ball went over the
 wall of center field.  All hits that Yufune
 allowed were those three hits in the 4th.
 Makihara was bad until the end of the 3rd, but
 he became good after that]


Swallows   | 1 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 1   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-------------------------------+--
Carp       | 2 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 2 | 5

	WP: Sasaoka	(5W 5L 21S)
	LP: Takatsu	(2W 6L 18S)
	HR: S Iida 6, Inaba 10, Meulens 25
	    C Kanemoto 25

[The Carp is really strong in clutch.  In the top
 of the 9th, runner on first, Furuta got a fly to
 left field.  The batted ball went at the wall
 and LF Kanemoto jumped.  He made not only great catch
 but also turned a double play to throw to first.
 Nevertheless, Meulens homered after that, so
 Tabata almost pitched a complete game to win.  But
 Koh got a RBI double with runner on second with one out
 and Tabata was changed.  In the 12th inning, Kanemoto
 hit the first pitch of Katoh who just relieved Takatsu,
 and the batted ball went over the wall of center field]


Lions      | 0 0 0   1 0 2   0 2 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 0 0 0   2 0 0   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Takeshita	(2W 2L)
	Sv: Sugiyama	(2L 2S)
	LP: Komiyama	(5W 13L)
	Hd: L Katori
	HR: L Suzuki,K. 19

[Komiyama lost again and again.  In the 6th,
 Suzuki got a RBI double to tie the game and
 Ohtsuka got a game-winning single to center
 field.  In the 8th, Kiyohara singled after
 Komiyama gave an intentional walk for Suzuki]


BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 1 1 3   0 0 0   0 0 X | 5

	WP: Iwamoto	(10W 8L)
	LP: Noda	(8W 7L)
	HR: F Ducey 23

[*** Iwamoto pitched a low-hitter ***
 It was also his first shut out game.  In the
 top of the 9th, the lead-off of this inning
 Taguchi singled to center field so Iwamoto
 missed a no-hitter.  There still remain five
 games between BW and F, so if the Fighters
 won all games, then the Fighters still have
 chance to win.  Although they can't win if
 the Blue Wave win all the other games.

 Fighter manager Ueda has announced that the reason
 why he can't continue to managing is that
 his daughters have joined to 'To-itsu Kyokai'
 (Sekai Kirisuto-Kyo Touitsu Shinrei Kyokai;
 World Chirist Unify God Organization??).  It's
 a kind of religious organization, but many people,
 including Ueda, dislike it]


Buffaloes  | 1 1 0   4 0 0   0 1 2 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 0 3 0   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 4

	WP: Aquino	(10W 7L)
	LP: Yoshitake	(4W 13L 1S)
	HR: Bu Arai 4, Nakamura, N. 25,  26, Ohishi 2, Fujitate 6
	    H Jojima 2, Yoshinaga 19

[The Buffaloes won 'the homerun comtetition' at Kita-Kyushu.
 The final W-L percantage of Hawks is less than .500 in this
 season]


[Results on September 12]

Buffaloes  | 1 0 2   4 0 0   0 0 0 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 2

	WP: Sakai	(8W 12L)
	LP: Kudoh	(8W 13L)
	HR: H Matsunaga 3, Kokubo 22

[The Buffaloes blew the Hawks out.  Kudoh
 was credited with his 13th lost to be a
 most losing pitcher (another such pitcher
 is Komiyama of the Marines)]


[Results on September 13]

Tigers     | 0 1 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 3 0   0 3 0   0 2 X | 8

	WP: Sekiguchi	(3W 4L)
	LP: Funaki	(5W 9L)
	HR: YB Tanishige 8

[Tiger manager Fujita has been fired after trouble
 between him and the front.  Shibata will be a proxy
 manager till the end of this season.  Sekiguchi pitched
 a complete game and help the team to go down to the
 bottom]


[Results on September 14]

Tigers     | 0 0 2   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Kawajiri	(11W 8L 1S)
	Sv: Kakuri	(7W 9L 15S)
	LP: Miura	(5W 9L)
	HR: T Maas 7, Wada 5
	    YB Braggs 11

[The Tigers won with two homers.  Tiger pitchers,
 starter Kawajiri, setup Tamura and closer Kakuri
 pitched well]


Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 1

	WP: Galvez	(15W 4L)
	LP: Ishii,K.	(4L)

[The Swallows presented a win for the Giants.
 In the bottom of the 9th, bases empty with
 one out, Hirosawa flied on the mound.  Meulens
 and O'Malley went to get it, pitcher Ishii asked
 Meulens to get it, but somehow the ball felt
 down between them so Hirosawa got first.  Motoki
 singled to right field on the count 3-2, and Hirosawa
 advanced to third.  Yoshii relieved but he gave a walk
 for PH Fukuoh on bases loaded after an intentional walk
 for PH Gotoh]


Carp       | 0 1 7   2 0 0   0 0 1 |11
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 1 0 3   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 4

	WP: Ohno	(5W 2L)
	Sv: Tamaki, S.	(3W 1L 1S)
	LP: Imanaka	(12W 8L)
	HR: C Maeda 16
	    D Coles 28

[Imanaka was too bad.  He was removed in the 3rd inning.
 Maeda and Ochiai were also too bad.  It is very difficult
 for the Dragons to win the pennant]


Fighters   | 3 1 3   0 1 0   1 0 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 2 0 0   0 0 2   1 1 0 | 6

	WP: Gross	(15W 9L)
	Sv: Shimazaki	(5W 3L 13S)
	LP: Koike	(3W 4L)
	HR: F Tanaka 21, Ide 6, Kataoka 14, Brito 26
	    Bu Rhodes 24, Rhodes 24,  25, Suzuki 8, Fujitate 7

[The Fighter batters got 7 runs early in the game.
 In late innings, Shimoyanagi and Shimazaki pitched
 well to save the team]

[Results on September 15]

Tigers     | 0 0 0   1 0 0   0 2 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 0   3 1 1   0 0 X | 5

	WP: Nomura	(9W 7L)
	Sv: Sasaki	(4W 3L 23S)
	LP: Yabu	(10W 12L)
	HR: T Shinjyo 16

[Yabu was bad in the 4th inning.  After he got two men outs,
 the batter reached first with an error of shortstop.  Yabu
 walked the next batter, and gave a RBI single up for Miyakawa
 to tie the game.  The next batter, pitcher Nomura, got a
 game-winning single.  The Tigers again failed to go up from
 the bottom]


Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 3 0   0 0 1 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Yamamoto	(4W 7L 1S)
	LP: Kida	(5W 9L 2S)
	HR: S Hata 6, Furuta 10

[Yamamoto pitched a shutout game allowing
 only two hits.  In the top of the 5th, Hata,
 who hit for Meulens, got a three-run homer
 off Kida.  In the 9th, Furuta homered off Mario]


Carp       | 2 0 0   0 0 1   1 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 0 0   2 4 0   0 0 X | 6

	WP: Yamamoto	(6W 9L 1S)
	Sv: Ochiai	(4W 6L 1S)
	LP: Kitoh	(12W 5L)
	HR: C Maeda 17
	    D Powell 14, Yamasaki 36

[The Dragons won with the two-run homer Powell and
 the grand slam of Yamasaki.  In late innings,
 Endoh, Kitano and Ochiai pitched not bad.  The Dragons
 still keep little hope]


BlueWave   | 0 4 0   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 4 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 4

	WP: Hirai	(5W 2L 6S)
	Sv: Suzuki	(7W 2L 18S)
	LP: Narimoto	(6W 6L 19S)

[The Blue Wave relievers, Watanabe-Kobayashi-Nomura
 -Hirai-Suzuki,  pitched very well.  In paticular,
 Watatabe appeared on bases loaded with no outs in the 4th
 just after such fielder's choice that Hoshino threw to
 third but didn't get out when Morozumi bunted.
 Watanabe got Minamibuchi flied out, and got Hori and
 Chamberlain struck out.  It was unlucky for the Marines
 (and Hillman) that Hillman was hit by the broken bat of Neel
 in the second inning.  After the accident, Hillman allowed
 4 hits, 2 walks and one HB so he gave 4 runs up.  He
 was removed at the end of the second inning.  He will be
 missed for a week, it is said.  In the 9th, Ichiro on first
 with two outs.  Ichiro jumped to second when Takahashi, who
 hit the fourth in batting order because he hit very good
 against *Hillman*, doulbled to the right foul line.  So
 Ichiro could score and it became the winning run]


Hawks      | 1 0 0   0 0 2   1 0 1 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 0 0 0   0 0 0   4 3 X | 7

	WP: Shiozaki	(8W 6L 9S)
	Sv: Sugiyama	(2L 3S)
	LP: Arikura	(1L 1S)
	HR: H Ohmichi 8, Kokubo 23
	    L Kiyohara 28

[The Lions made great comeback.  Hawk starter Kimura
 pitched parfect untill the end of the 6th inning, so
 everyone thought that the Hawks would win when they
 scored the 4th run in the top of the 7th.  But in the
 bottom of the 7th, the lead-off Ohtomo doubled.  After
 Matsui walked, Suzuki got a RBI single, so Kimura missed
 a shutout game.  Following him, Kiyohara doulbed to the
 left foul line, and Kimura missed a complete game :-)
 Hawk reliever Arikura allowed Kakiuchi to single and the
 game was tied.  In the 8th, Kiyohara got a 3-run homer
 off Arikura and the Lions won]


Fighters   | 0 0 0   5 3 0   0 0 2 |10
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 1 | 3

	WP: Shibakusa	(7W 6L)
	LP: Yamasaki	(6W 12L)
	HR: F Ducey 24, Brito 27
	    Bu C.D 19

[Today, Ducey hit the 5th and Brito the 6th in the batting
 order.  They got back-to-back RBI hits in the 4th,
 and back-to-back homers in the 5th.  Shibakusa went
 to the end of the 7th, allowing 3 hits.  The Fighters
 seems to be going up to the four games at Kobe from
 20 through 23]


[Results on September 16]

Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 0 2   0 0 4   1 0 X | 7

	WP: Kadokura	(6W 1L)
	LP: Yufune	(5W 13L 2S)
	HR: D Taihoh 36

[Kadokura-Kitano-Endoh-Nakamaya shut the Tigers out.
 In the 3rd, Yamasaki got a 2-run single.  In the 6th,
 they scored 4 runs with a double of Taneda and so on.
 The Dragons still keep up with the leading two teams]


Carp       | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0   5 | 6
-----------+---------------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0   1 | 2

	WP: Katoh	(8W 7L)
	Sv: Sasaoka	(5W 5L 22S)
	LP: Yoshii	(10W 7L)
	HR: C Maeda 18

[The Carp won with extra innings.  Now the Carp lead
 the Giants by two games]


BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 1   0 | 2
-----------+---------------------------+--
Marines    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 0   1 | 3

	WP: Kuroki	(7W 7L)
	LP: Hirai	(5W 3L 6S)
	HR: BW Takahashi, S. 8
	    M Chamberlain 10

[The Blue Wave tied the game after two outs with bases
 empty in the top of the 9th inning: Motonishi doubled
 and he returned to the plate with a wild pitch by Kawamoto.
 But in the bottom of the 10th, runners on second and 
 third with one out, Nomura relieved Hirai.  Nomura didn't
 give an intentional walk for Morozumi, but Morozumi succeeded
 suicide squeese play and the Marines stopped their losing streak]


Hawks      | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 0 2 2   0 8 0   0 0 X |12

	WP: Nishiguchi	(13W 10L 1S)
	Sv: Teramoto	(1S)
	LP: Takeda	(15W 8L)
	HR: L Kiyohara 29

[The Lions batters blew out the Hawks.  Kiyohara got
 his 29th homer, so the homerun king race is very heating,
 because Neel, who hits 31 homers, has injured and missed
 for a while]


Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 1 1   0 0 X | 2

	WP: Seo	(1W 1L)
	LP: Nishizaki	(14W 7L)

[Seo got his first win in his career with a shutout game.
 Nishizaki was not bad, but again he couldn't win.  C.D
 got a RBI hit in the 5th, and Ohmura in the 6th.
 Seo, who has ever won the high school championship, said,
 "I'm now happier than I won the high school championship"]


[Results on September 17]

Giants     | 0 0 0   2 5 0   2 0 1 |10
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 2

	WP: Saitoh,M.	(15W 4L)
	LP: Saitoh,T.	(9W 9L)
	HR: G Matsui 37, Motoki 7, Murata, S. 4
	    YB Suzuki 13, Komada 9

[Saitoh Takashi of the Bay Stars became bad suddenly
 in middle innings.  Saitoh of the Giants got 15 wins]


Carp       | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 3 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 3 1 0   1 0 0   0 3 X | 8

	WP: Tabata	(11W 11L 1S)
	Sv: Takatsu	(2W 6L 19S)
	LP: Yamasaki	(9W 4L)
	HR: C Kanemoto 26
	    S O'Malley 18, Miyamoto, S. 1

[Tabata was too bad in the first inning.  He allowed
 a walk on bases loaded.  But the following batters
 couldn't get hit so the Carp scored only one run.
 In the bottom of the first inning, O'Malley hit a
 high ball and the ball went to right stand near the
 foul pole.  In the top of the 8th, Kanemoto got a
 3-run homer, but in the bottom of the same inning,
 Tamaki gave up 3 runs and the Carp lost]


Marines    | 0 1 2   2 0 0   0 1 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 0 1   4 0 0 | 5

	WP: Narimoto	(7W 6L 19S)
	LP: Sano	(4W 3L 7S)
	HR: M Hatsushiba 14, Ohmura 7
	    Bu Fujitate 8

[Marine starter Mutoh couldn't get his career first
 win.  In the 7th inning, Kawamoto allowed PH Fujitate
 to homer to tie the game.  In the top of the 8th,
 Ohmura got a game-winning homer and tonight Narimoto
 held the lead]


BlueWave   | 1 2 0   0 0 0   3 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 0 0 0   1 1 0   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Fraser	(9W 2L)
	LP: Kudoh	(8W 14L)
	HR: BW Taguchi 5

[The Blue Wave beated Kudoh both early in the game
 and late in the game.  Blue Wave pitchers, Fraser,
 Watanabe and Kobayashi, pitched well.  Now the magic
 number for the Blue Wave is decreased to 6.  OTOH,
 the Hawks lost 7 games in a row, for the first time
 in this season]


[Results on September 18]

Giants     | 1 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 1 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Mizuno	(1W)
	Sv: Kohno	(6W 1L 3S)
	LP: Sekiguchi	(3W 5L)
	HR: G Matsui 38
	    YB Hatayama 6

[Giants won with nice relievers and a hit-and-run play.
 Mizono, who relieved at two outs in the third inning,
 went to the end of 5th and got first win this season.
 In the top of the 6th, Motoki on first, Murata successed
 a hit-and-run play.  He grounded to second baseman, but
 the second baseman had just moved to the second base, so
 the batted ball went to right-center field and Motoki
 scored the game-winning run.  The Bay Stars had chance
 both in the 8th and 9th, but Kohno allowed no runs.
 The Carp lost tonight, so the both teams now lead the league]


Carp       | 0 0 0   0 1 2   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 1 1   0 4 0   0 0 X | 6

	WP: Itoh,A.	(3W 1L)
	Sv: Takatsu	(2W 6L 20S)
	LP: Yamauchi	(11W 8L)
	HR: C Lopez 23
	    S Furuta 11

[The Carp players were too bad probably because they
 are very tired.  They made three errors, pitched
 two wild pitches and got only five hits.  The Carp
 has been finally caught up by the Giants]


Marines    | 0 0 1   0 4 0   0 1 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 0 | 1

	WP: Komiyama	(6W 13L)
	LP: Sakai	(8W 13L)
	HR: Bu Arai 5

[Komiyama has won since June 15.  In the top of the
 5th, bases loaded, Igarashi and Chamberlain got
 back-to-back RBI hits and the Marines scored 4 runs]


BlueWave   | 1 0 3   1 0 1   0 1 3 |10
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 1 0 0   0 0 2   4 0 2 | 9

	WP: Nomura	(4W 1L 4S)
	Sv: Watanabe,N.	(3W 1L 1S)
	LP: Arikura	(2L 1S)
	HR: BW Takada 3
	    H Jojima 3, Kokubo 24

[The Hawks made comeback in late innings, but
 they couldn't win.  In the 6th, Johjima got a
 2-run homer, and in the7th, Kokubo got a 3-run
 homer to turn the game over.  In the 9th, both
 Arikura and closer Jose gave up runs while BW
 reliever Watanabe pitched well.  Now the magic
 number for the Blue Wave became only 4.


Lions      | 0 0 0   4 0 0   1 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Shintani	(10W 4L 2S)
	LP: Iwamoto	(10W 9L)
	HR: L Jackson 18, Kakiuchi 24

[Shintani pitched a shutout game.  He allowed only
 one hit till the end of the 8th, but he gave up
 three hits in the 9th.  Both Jackson and Kakiuchi
 got a two-run homer off Iwamoto in the 4th inning.
 The Lions are now in hot streak, but it's too late]


[Results on September 19]

Marines    | 0 0 0   0 1 1   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 2   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 3

	WP: Sano	(5W 3L 7S)
	LP: Yabuta	(3W 5L)
	HR: M Hatsushiba 15

[Sano pitched very well.  He pitched
 the last three innings, and he allowed
 no hits and got five strikeouts.
 In the bottom of the 9th, runners on
 first and second with two outs, Nakane
 grounded to third baseman.  But 3B
 Hatsushiba didn't get it and the batted
 ball turned to left field.  So PR Ohishi
 scored and the Buffaloes won]


Lions      | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   5 1 X | 6

	WP: Gross	(16W 9L)
	LP: Takeshita	(2W 3L)
	HR: F Nakamura 2

[The Draft No-1 rookie Nakamura hit the lead-off
 in the batting order.  In early innings,  the
 Fighters had chances but didn't score.  But
 in the 7th, Nakamura got a game-winning 3-run
 homer to left field.  The magic number for the
 Blue Wave still remains four, and finally
 the Kobe series is going to start tomorrow.
 The starters are Iwamoto (F) and Itoh (BW)]


[Results on September 20]

Dragons    | 0 0 0   1 0 0   0 3 0   0 | 4
-----------+---------------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 1   0 0 1   0 1 1   1 | 5

	WP: Kawaguchi	(1W 4L)
	LP: Nakayama	(4W 4L 14S)
	HR: D Taneda 1
	    G Shimizu 10, Yoshimura 2

[The Giants won and now lead the league.  Three
 lefty Giant PH, Shimizu, Yoshimura and Gotoh
 went good: Shimizu and Yoshimura homered in the
 8th and 9th (resp.), and Gotoh got a sacrifice
 fly to center filed in the 10th inning with
 bases loaded and no outs.  After the game,
 Dragon manager Hoshino got angry with the umpires,
 especially with the firstbase umpire Kamimoto,
 saying, "Who asked you to call such a way! Be fair!".
 And Hoshino and the umpires made a fight.  The bad
 calls that Hoshino suggested were probably the following
 two plays:  1) Powell grounded out to shotstop in the
 7th inning, and 2) Hikono's checked swing was called
 a swing by the firstbase umpire on bases loaded with
 two outs in the top of the 10th inning.  In Japan,
 the position of the umpires is rather poor and such
 a rumor that the umpires often call good for the Giants
 are often made, so it is true that the press blame Hoshino,
 but they also blame all the Central League umpires and
 commisioner]


BayStars   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 2 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 1 0 4   0 1 0   0 3 X | 9

	WP: Ishii,K.	(1W 4L)
	LP: Miura	(5W 10L)
	HR: YB Hatayama 7
	    S Tsuji 2, Inaba 11, Hironaga 2

[Ishii Kazuhisa got his first win in this season.
 Yokohama now lead the Tigers by only one game]


Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 4 1   0 0 1 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 0 0 0   0 1 1   1 0 0 | 3

	WP: Yamasaki	(7W 12L)
	Sv: Akahori	(8W 4L 18S)
	LP: Kaku	(6L)
	HR: Bu Furukubo 2
	    L Kakiuchi 25, Tanabe 7

[Furukubo got a grand slam in the 5th inning.
 Kaku of the Lions couldn't win in this season.

 The game at Kobe against the Fighters was
 rained out] 


[Results on September 21]

Carp       | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 3 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 X | 3

	WP: Kawajiri	(12W 8L 1S)
	LP: Kitoh	(12W 6L)

[Carp starter Kitoh was not good.  He
 allowed Shinjyo to single to tie the game.
 After that, Sekikawa drove 2 runs in.
 Carp batters got only three hits in total
 and Kawajiri pitched a complete game.
 The Tigers now catch up with the Bay Stars:
 both teams are now the 5th place] 


BayStars   | 1 0 1   3 0 0   0 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 0 2   2 0 0   3 0 X | 7

	WP: Matsuoka	(2W)
	Sv: Takatsu	(2W 6L 21S)
	LP: Tokano	(5L)

[The Swallows made comeback in the 7th inning.
 After Miyamoto, S. and PH Hironaga got back-to-back
 doubles to tie the game, Inaba hit a sacrifice fly
 to go ahead.  Following him, O'Mally singled to
 center filed  and drove another run in.  The Swallows
 was credited with the 60th win (63 losses)]


Dragons    | 1 0 0   3 0 0   0 2 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   1 0 0   0 2 0 | 3

	WP: Yamamoto	(7W 9L 1S)
	LP: Galvez	(15W 5L)
	HR: D Coles 29
	    G Ohmori 1, Motoki 8

[Yamamoto pitched a complete game.  He gave up
 two homers for Ohmori(solo) and Motoki(2-run),
 but those are only runs he allowed.  He also
 drove 2 runs in in the top of the 8th with a
 single off Mario.  Dragon batters helped him
 very well: Coles homered in the first inning,
 Taihoh cleaned the bases with his double on
 bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning]


Hawks      | 0 0 0   1 0 0   2 0 0   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-------------------------------+--
Marines    | 0 0 0   3 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 3

	HR: M Hatsushiba 16

(Tie Game)

[Hillman couldn't get his 15th win.  Kuroki releived
 him at pinch in the top of the 7th, but he gave up
 a RBI single for PH Fujimoto, and after a hit batter,
 he walked Kokubo on bases loaded.  He pitched well
 from the 8th inning and went to the end of 10th inning]


Fighters   | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 0   3 0 0   0 0 X | 3

	WP: Hoshino	(13W 5L)
	Sv: Nomura	(4W 1L 5S)
	LP: Shibakusa	(7W 7L)
	Hd: BW Watanabe,N. Suzuki
	HR: F Nakamura 3

[Finally the magic number for the Blue Wave has become
 two, which means that one more win against the Fighters
 brings the Blue Wave the pennant!  In the 4th, after
 Fujii doubled to tie the game, runners on second and third
 with one out, Ogawa grounded to second baseman.  2B Kaneko
 fielded in shallow but he couldn't get it, so third runner
 Neel scored after he watched the error.  The next batter
 Motonishi also grounded to second baseman, high and weak
 ball, so the Blue Wave got another run]


[Results on September 22]

Fighters   | 0 0 0   1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-------------------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 1


(Tie Game)

[The Blue Wave has decreased the magic number to one.
 In the bottom of the 8th, Baba got a clutch hit to
 tie the game.  The Blue Wave pitchers were good, and
 the game became a tie game.  The Blue Wave clinch the
 pennant if they win or tie today]


    The game at Tokyo Dome, which is also very important,
has been cancelled because of bad transportation situation
by typhoon.  The typhoon has attacked Kanto area this
afternoon, and many railroad lines and high ways has been
affected.  The game at Dome has been canceled since Aug. 10,
1990.  At that time, the Dragons could not come to Tokyo
because Shinkansen has been stopped by typhoon]


[Results on September 23]

Fighters   | 1 0 0   2 0 0   0 3 0   0 | 6
-----------+---------------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 2 0   0 0 1   2 0 1   1 | 7

	WP: Kaneda	(5W 7L)
	LP: Shimazaki	(5W 4L 13S)
	HR: F Ducey 25
	    BW Takahashi, S. 9, Ichiro 15, D.J 15

**** Congratulation, the ORIX Blue Wave! ****

[What a game!  In the bottom of the 9th, bases empty
 with two outs, PH D.J (Doug Jennings) homered to tie
 the game.  In the bottom of the 10th,  Ohshima was on
 first with no out when Ichiro acted bat.  The batted
 ball by Ichiro went near the left foul line, it was fair.
 Ohshima was comming to the plate but the ball was still
 in outfield.  The Blue Wave won at home with the game-
 ending hit of Ichiro.  Ichiro jumped and jumped near the
 second base after he watched Oshima score]


Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 3 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 1

	WP: Tabata	(12W 11L 1S)
	LP: Yabu	(10W 13L)

[Both teams had many chances, but couldn't score
 except for the 9th inning.  Furuta singled on
 bases loaded with no outs in the 9th inning.
 The Tigers again failed to go up from the bottom]


Dragons    | 0 0 0   1 0 1   1 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 2   0 5 0   2 5 X |14

	WP: Saitoh,T.	(10W 9L)
	LP: Kadokura	(6W 2L)
	HR: D Tatsunami 9, Yano 6
	    YB Miyagawa 2

[The Dragons lost a very important game.  Kadokura was
 removed in the 5th inning.  Dragon relievers Idemoto
 and Ochiai couldn't stop the momentum of the Bay Stars]


Carp       | 1 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 0   0 | 2
-----------+---------------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 1   0 0 0   1 0 0   1 | 3

	WP: Mizuno	(2W)
	LP: Sasaoka	(5W 6L 22S)
	HR: C Maeda 19

[The Carp lost four games in a row.  Both starters
 Saitoh and Katoh pitched well.  In the bottom of
 the 9th inning, the Giants had chance of runners
 on first and third with no outs because of the
 error of 3B Nomura.  But Yamauchi didn't allow
 any run and the game got into extra innings.
 In the bottom of the 10th, Sasaoka appeared on the
 mound, but he allowed Ohmori and Mack to double
 and the Giants won.  Now the Giants lead the second
 place, the Carp, by one and a half games]


Hawks      | 0 1 0   0 2 0   3 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 1 2 0   3 0 0   1 0 X | 7

	WP: Yabuta	(4W 5L)
	Sv: Narimoto	(7W 6L 20S)
	LP: Sakumoto	(1W 2L)
	HR: H Ohmichi 9
	    M Hori 15, Whitmore 12

[Irabu was too bad.  Whitmore got a game-winning
 homerun in the bottom of the 7th inning.  Now
 Narimoto leads the league in the best reliver
 (the most save-points).  The Hawks have lost
 nine games in a row]


Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 0 0 1   1 0 1   3 0 X | 6

	WP: Nishiguchi	(14W 10L 1S)
	LP: Aquino	(10W 8L)
	HR: L Ohtsuka 1, Suzuki,K. 20, Kiyohara 30

[Nishiguch pitched a one-hitter.  The only runner he allowed
 was Mizuguchi in the first inning, who singled.  In fact,
 he got eight strikeouts in a row, which is one less than
 the Japanese record.  The nineth batter C.D grounded to
 the pitcher on the count 3-2.  OTOH, Kiyohara got his 30th
 homer,  so Kiyohara is led by only one homer now]


[Results on September 24]

Swallows   | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0   0 | 1
-----------+---------------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1   1 | 2

	WP: Kakuri	(8W 9L 15S)
	LP: Katoh	(1L)
	HR: T Shinjyo 17

[Shinjyo homered off Yoshii in the bottom of the 9th
 inning.  In the 10th inning, Maas got a game-ending
 hit to left field.  Now the Tigers and the Bay Stars
 stand at the 5th place]


Dragons    | 0 0 0   5 0 0   2 0 4 |11
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 1 0 2   1 0 0   0 0 2 | 6

	WP: Imanaka	(13W 8L)
	LP: Sekiguchi	(3W 6L)
	HR: D Taihoh 37, Nakamura 12, Ohnishi 1

[In the 4th inning, Taihoh got a 3-run homer to
 turn the game over.  After that, both Imanaka,
 the Dragon starter, and Dragon batters became good]


Carp       | 0 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   0 0 3   2 0 X | 5

	WP: Miyamoto	(5W 3L)
	Sv: Kawaguchi	(1W 4L 1S)
	LP: Ohno	(5W 3L)

[The Giants won and the magic number for the Giants
 has appeared: it is five (out of 6 games remaining).
 In the bottom of the 6th inning, runner on first with
 two outs, Ohno gave up a single for Mack, and a walk
 for Motoki, so Inoue appeared on bases loaded.  He
 doulbed to clean the bases.  In the top of the 8th inning,
 the Carp scored two runs and still had chance of bases
 loaded with no outs when Nishiyama acted bat.  But Nishiyama
 grounded to pitcher, so the Giants turned a double play
 (1-2-3).  In the bottom of the same inning, Matsui
 singled to drive two runs in and the Giants won]


Fighters   | 0 1 0   4 1 0   0 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 2 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 3

	WP: Gross	(17W 9L)
	LP: Sonokawa	(6L)
	HR: F Brito 28,  29, Ducey 26

[Brito got two homers so he still have hope to win the homerun
 king although he have only four games left (Neel has 6 games,
 Kiyohara 9 games).  Gross got his 17th win to lead the league
 by two wins in the most winning pitcher]


Lions      | 1 1 0   1 0 0   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 1 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Shintani	(11W 4L 2S)
	Sv: Shiozaki	(8W 6L 10S)
	LP: Toyoda	(2W 1L)
	Hd: L Sugiyama
	HR: BW Ichiro 16

[The Blue Wave players seemed to be tired after
 'winning party' last night :-)  But Ichiro went
 4 for 4.  In his final actbat, he would hit for
 cylcle if he would triple, but he only got a single]


Hawks      | 0 0 2   1 0 0   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 2 | 2

	WP: Jose	(6W 9L 16S)
	Sv: Hamagiwa	(1S)
	LP: Sakai	(8W 14L)
	Hd: H Mitsugu Kimura
	HR: H Wakisaka 2

[The Hawks stopped their losing streak at nine.
 Jose started since May 7.  In the bottom of the
 9th inning, the Buffaloes made comeback, but
 Hamagiwa struck Rhodes out and the game was over]


[Results on September 25]

Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 2 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 X | 2

	WP: Funaki	(6W 9L)
	LP: Itoh,A.	(3W 2L)

[The Tigers have gone up from the bottom since
 April 24.  Funaki pitched his career first shutout
 game, allowing three hits]


Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 1 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 X | 2

	WP: Komiyama	(7W 13L)
	Sv: Kawamoto	(4W 5L 10S)
	LP: Shibakusa	(7W 8L)

[Komiyama pitched very well.  In the top of the 7th
 inning, Tanaka singled, which is the fisrt hit that
 Komiyama allowed.  Brito and Ducey are going to back
 to their home soon, and I hear that Brito doesn't intend
 to sign for the Fighters (or any team in Japan?) in
 the next season because of heavy practice]


Lions      | 0 3 0   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 1 0   0 0 0   1 0 0 | 2

	WP: Yokota	(3W 7L)
	Sv: Shiozaki	(8W 6L 11S)
	LP: Itoh	(1L)
	Hd: L Takeshita Katori Sugiyama
	HR: L Jackson 19
	    BW Baba 5

[Neel and Kiyohara, who are in hot race of homerun king,
 couldn't got any homer.  Ichiro got 186 hits in a season,
 which is the second record in 130-game seasons.  Of course
 the Japanese recored in a season is 210 by himself in 1994.
 The Lions won with a 3-run homer of Jackson and a RBI single
 of Kiyohara]


[Results on September 26]

Hawks      | 0 0 0   5 1 0   1 0 1 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   1 1 2   0 0 0 | 4

	WP: Hamagiwa	(1W 1S)
	LP: Yamasaki	(7W 13L)
	Hd: H Saitoh Kimura Mitsugu
	HR: Bu C.D 20

[The Hawk starter Hamagiwa got his career
 first win.  The Buffaloes now go down
 to the 4th place instead of the Lions]


[Results on September 27]

Hawks      | 0 0 1   0 1 0   0 0 1 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   1 1 1   0 0 1 | 4

	WP: Akahori	(9W 4L 18S)
	LP: Sakumoto	(1W 3L)
	HR: H Jojima 4
	    Bu Furukubo 3

[Akahori, who appeared in the game in the 8th inning,
 allowed a run to be tied in the top of the 9th inning.
 But Nakame got a game-ending sacrifice fly with runners
 on second and third and out out in the bottom of the 9th.
 Akahori has tied the Narimoto in the most save points
 (defined as sum of relief wins and saves)]


[Results on September 28]

Tigers     | 0 0 2   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 1 0   0 0 2   0 0 X | 3

	WP: Kida	(6W 9L 2S)
	Sv: Kawaguchi	(1W 4L 2S)
	LP: Kawajiri	(12W 9L 1S)

[Gotoh and Murata made the Giants win.  In the third
 inning, the Tigers scored one run and still had chance
 of bases loaded with one out.  Shinjyo flied to center
 field, and the batted ball seemed to go over the CF Gotoh.
 But Gotoh made a nice catch, so the Tigers could score
 only one more run.  In the bottom of the 6th inning,
 Murata was jammed by a screwball of Kawajiri, but the
 batted ball fell in the left foul line and two men scored:
 one of them was Fukuoh, who was given an intentional walk.
 Giant starter Makihara was bad, but Kida was so good that
 the Tigers couldn't make comeback.  Now the magic number
 for the Giants becomes three]


BayStars   | 6 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Nomura	(10W 7L)
	LP: Kitoh	(12W 7L)
	HR: YB Komada 10
	    C Machida 8

[Kitoh was removed in the first inning.  Reliever
 Takahashi allowed pitcher Nomura to double and the
 the Carp lost six games in a row]


Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 2 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 X | 3

	WP: Noguchi	(5W 4L)
	LP: Matsuoka	(2W 1L)

[Noguchi pitched a shutout game.  Powell got 170 hits
 in this season.  The Dragons have not given up yet]


Buffaloes  | 0 0 1   1 2 0   0 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 4 0 0   1 0 0   3 0 X | 8

	WP: Kuroki	(8W 7L)
	Sv: Narimoto	(7W 6L 21S)
	LP: Seo	(1W 2L)
	HR: Bu Matoyama 1
	    M Chamberlain 11, Minamibuchi 5

[Hillman couldn't get 15 wins.  Narimoto again
 goes ahead in the most save-points]


Fighters   | 4 2 0   4 0 0   1 0 0 |11
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 2   0 2 0   0 0 2 | 6

	WP: Imazeki	(11W 9L)
	Sv: Shimazaki	(5W 4L 14S)
	LP: Kaneda	(5W 8L)
	Hd: F Kawabe
	HR: F Tanaka 22, Ide 7
	    BW Taguchi 6

[The Fighter batters blew the Blue Wave out.
 Neel fielded the first baseman, but he seems
 to be poor at fielding.  Tanaka of the Fighters
 got his career 150 homeruns]


Hawks      | 0 0 0   2 0 2   0 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 1 0 1   1 0 4   0 0 X | 7

	WP: Nishiguchi	(15W 10L 1S)
	LP: Kudoh	(8W 15L)
	HR: H Ohmichi 10, Yoshinaga 20
	    L Narahara 2, Kakiuchi 26, Itoh 6

[Nishiguchi got his 15th win.  Kiyohara couldn't
 get not only any homers but also any base hits.
 It turned out that the Hawks stand in the bottom
 this season]


[Results on September 29]

Tigers     | 3 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   1 0 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Yabu	(11W 13L)
	LP: Galvez	(15W 6L)
	HR: T Maas 8, Hiyama 22

[Yabu pitched very well.  Galvez was removed at the
 end of the first inning: Maas got a 2-run homer,
 and Hoshino singled with runners on second and third
 and two outs (the second runner Sekikawa was thrown
 out at the plate).  In the 7th, the Tigers scored
 two runs with a solo homer of Hiyama and a RBI single
 of Wada.  The Tigers stand now in the 5th place.
     As a results of the loss, the magic number for the
 Giants has disappeared (in the sence of Japanese definition):
 That is to say, if the Dragons would win all the games
 remaining, two of which are against the Giants, then the
 Dragons would go 75-55.  OTOH, the Giants could go only
 75-55 under the assumption (remark that we assume that
 the Dragons win all the games), so they can't go over the
 Draongs.  In other words, the Dragons have chance of
 clinching the pennant by themselves now]


BayStars   | 2 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 4 6 1   0 0 0   2 0 X |13

	WP: Katoh	(9W 7L)
	Sv: Takahashi, K.	(1W 1L 1S)
	LP: Saitoh,T.	(10W 10L)
	HR: YB Rose 14,  15
	    C Lopez 24

[The Carp finnaly stopped their losing streak.
 Now they are going to have three games against the
 Dragons from tomorrow, determinating the challenger
 against the Giants]


Buffaloes  | 2 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 1 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 0 | 2

	WP: Aquino	(11W 8L)
	Sv: Akahori	(9W 4L 19S)
	LP: Yabuta	(4W 6L)
	HR: Bu Rhodes 26, Suzuki 9
	    M Igarashi 3

[Akahori got another save point to tie Narimoto.
 Both the Buffaloes and the Lions stand in the
 third place now]


Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 2 0   2 0 X | 4

	WP: Fraser	(10W 2L)
	Sv: Suzuki	(7W 2L 19S)
	LP: Shibakusa	(7W 9L)
	Hd: BW Nomura
	HR: BW Fujii 18

[The Blue Wave won for the first time after they
 clinched the pennant.  Ichiro was credited with
 an assist when third runner Nemoto tried to home
 with a fly to center field in the top of the 6th]


Current Standings

Central League
            G  W  L  T  PCT   GB streak last10  GL 
Giants    126 73 53  0 .579          L1   7-3    4 
Carp      125 70 55  0 .560  2.5     W1   3-7    5 
Dragons   123 68 55  0 .553  3.5     W2   6-4    7 
Swallows  127 61 66  0 .480 12.5     L3   6-4    3 
Tigers    127 53 74  0 .417 20.5     W1   5-5    3 
BayStars  126 52 74  0 .413 21.0     L1   3-7    4 

  Team vs. Team     Win - Loss (Tie)
           Giants    Carp      Dragons   Swallows  Tigers    BayStars  
Giants      ----    14-12( 0) 13-11( 0) 17- 7( 0) 15-11( 0) 14-12( 0) 
Carp      12-14( 0)   ----    14- 8( 0) 15-11( 0) 16-10( 0) 13-12( 0) 
Dragons   11-13( 0)  8-14( 0)   ----    19- 7( 0) 14-11( 0) 16-10( 0) 
Swallows   7-17( 0) 11-15( 0)  7-19( 0)   ----    19- 7( 0) 17- 8( 0) 
Tigers    11-15( 0) 10-16( 0) 11-14( 0)  7-19( 0)   ----    14-10( 0) 
BayStars  12-14( 0) 12-13( 0) 10-16( 0)  8-17( 0) 10-14( 0)   ----    

Pacific League
            G  W  L  T  PCT   GB streak last10  GL 
BlueWave  127 72 49  6 .595          W1 5-4(1)   3 
Fighters  129 68 57  4 .544  6.0     L1 3-6(1)   1 
Lions     127 60 63  4 .488 13.0     W4   8-2    3 
Buffaloes 124 60 63  1 .488 13.0     W1   4-6    6 
Marines   124 56 65  3 .463 16.0     L1 6-3(1)   6 
Hawks     129 54 73  2 .425 21.0     L2 2-7(1)   1 

  Team vs. Team     Win - Loss (Tie)
           BlueWave  Fighters  Lions     Buffaloes Marines   Hawks     
BlueWave    ----    16- 8( 2) 11-11( 3) 17- 8( 1) 14-10( 0) 14-12( 0) 
Fighters   8-16( 2)   ----    13-13( 0) 13-12( 0) 17- 7( 2) 17- 9( 0) 
Lions     11-11( 3) 13-13( 0)   ----    10-14( 0) 12-14( 0) 14-11( 1) 
Buffaloes  8-17( 1) 12-13( 0) 14-10( 0)   ----    12-11( 0) 14-12( 0) 
Marines   10-14( 0)  7-17( 2) 14-12( 0) 11-12( 0)   ----    14-10( 1) 
Hawks     12-14( 0)  9-17( 0) 11-14( 1) 12-14( 0) 10-14( 1)   ----