Results in April, 1997


Current standing


Results on April 4

Results on April 5

Results on April 6

Results on April 8

Results on April 9

Results on April 10

Results on April 11

Results on April 12

Results on April 13

Results on April 15

Results on April 16

Results on April 17

Results on April 18

Results on April 19

Results on April 20

Results on April 22

Results on April 23

Results on April 24

Results on April 25

Results on April 26

Results on April 27

Results on April 29

Results on April 30


Standing at the end of April

Central League
            G  W  L  T  PCT   GB streak last10  GL 
Swallows   23 15  8  0 .652          L4   4-6  112 
Carp       21 12  9  0 .571  2.0     W1   7-3  114 
Tigers     22 11 11  0 .500  3.5     W4   7-3  113 
Giants     22 10 12  0 .455  4.5     L2   4-6  113 
Dragons    22 10 12  0 .455  4.5     L1   4-6  113 
BayStars   22  8 14  0 .364  6.5     W2   4-6  113 

  Team vs. Team     Win - Loss (Tie)
           Swallows  Carp      Tigers    Giants    Dragons   BayStars  
Swallows    ----     3- 3( 0)  4- 2( 0)  2- 1( 0)  3- 0( 0)  3- 2( 0) 
Carp       3- 3( 0)   ----     1- 1( 0)  3- 3( 0)  3- 1( 0)  2- 1( 0) 
Tigers     2- 4( 0)  1- 1( 0)   ----     3- 2( 0)  0- 3( 0)  5- 1( 0) 
Giants     1- 2( 0)  3- 3( 0)  2- 3( 0)   ----     3- 3( 0)  1- 1( 0) 
Dragons    0- 3( 0)  1- 3( 0)  3- 0( 0)  3- 3( 0)   ----     3- 3( 0) 
BayStars   2- 3( 0)  1- 2( 0)  1- 5( 0)  1- 1( 0)  3- 3( 0)   ----    

Pacific League
            G  W  L  T  PCT   GB streak last10  GL 
BlueWave   19 10  9  0 .526          L1   6-4  116 
Marines    20 10  9  1 .526  0.0     W1   6-4  115 
Buffaloes  19  9  9  1 .500  0.5     L1   3-7  116 
Hawks      20 10 10  0 .500  0.5     W2   4-6  115 
Lions      21 10 11  0 .476  1.0     W1   3-7  114 
Fighters   21 10 11  0 .476  1.0     L1   8-2  114 

  Team vs. Team     Win - Loss (Tie)
           BlueWave  Marines   Buffaloes Hawks     Lions     Fighters  
BlueWave    ----     1- 2( 0)  3- 0( 0)  2- 2( 0)  3- 3( 0)  1- 2( 0) 
Marines    2- 1( 0)   ----     1- 3( 1)  3- 3( 0)  1- 2( 0)  3- 0( 0) 
Buffaloes  0- 3( 0)  3- 1( 1)   ----     2- 1( 0)  2- 3( 0)  2- 1( 0) 
Hawks      2- 2( 0)  3- 3( 0)  1- 2( 0)   ----     1- 0( 0)  3- 3( 0) 
Lions      3- 3( 0)  2- 1( 0)  3- 2( 0)  0- 1( 0)   ----     2- 4( 0) 
Fighters   2- 1( 0)  0- 3( 0)  1- 2( 0)  3- 3( 0)  4- 2( 0)   ----    

[Results on April 4]

At Nagoya Dome

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

	WP: Yamamoto	(1W)
	Sv: Sun	(1S)
	LP: Morita	(1L)
	HR: D Tatsunami 1, Powell 1

	1997 Central League has started.
	(The Game at Hiroshima was rained out)

[In the bottom of the first inning, the lead-off
 of the Dragons Tatsunami got a homer to right
 stand.  Dragon batters still hit many homers
 even in large Nagoya Dome.  In the top of the
 last inning, Saeki drove a run with his triple
 to right field with two outs when the Dragons
 switched the pitcher from starter Yamamoto into
 Sun.  Sun's second pitch went over the head of
 the batter, hit catcher's mit and went behind
 of him.  Saeki tried home, the ball did not
 go so far and there was bang-bang play at
 the plate but Saeki was called out.  Ohya, the
 manager of the Bay Stars, got angry and protested
 in vein for 15 minutes after the game was over]

    At Nagoya Dome, the Mayer of Nagoya city threw the
first pitch.  At Tokyo Dome, Amuro Namie, the most
popular singer in Japan, threw it.


At Tokyo Dome

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

	WP: Bross	(1W)
	Sv: Katoh	(1S)
	LP: Saitoh,M.	(1L)
	HR: S Kobayakawa 1, Kobayakawa 2, Kobayakawa 3, Inaba 1
	    G Matsui 1

[Kobayakawa, who was fired by the Carp and now hit
 the fifth in the batting order of the Swallows,
 got three homers in his first three at-bats!
 Saitoh couldn't pitch four continuous shutout
 games on the opening day.  Matsui showed his power
 by hitting low fastball to right stand.  The Giant
 pitchers and batters seem to be still sleeping :-)]


[Results on April 5]

At Hiroshima

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

	WP: Yamauchi	(1W)
	Sv: Sasaoka	(1S)
	LP: Kawajiri	(1L)
	HR: C Ogata 1

[The Carp won the opeing game postponed with
 the 3-run homer of Ogata.  Now the Tigers has lost
 the opening games for seven years. The umpire-in-chief
 of this game was Dimulo(sp?) from AAA.  There is
 exchange of umpires between the US (3A) and Japan]


At Nagoya Dome

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

	WP: Tokano	(1W)
	Sv: Sasaki	(1S)
	LP: Daitoh	(1L)

[The Dragons caught up with the Bay Stars with a single of
 Taihoh but the Bay Stars went ahead with the error of
 Taihoh in the 7th inning:  the ball went throught the
 wicket with two outs and a runner on first.  Sasaki of the
 Bay Stars got 4 strikeouts in a row to close the game]


At Tokyo Dome

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

	WP: Tabata	(1W)
	Sv: Katoh	(2S)
	LP: Nishiyama	(1L)
	HR: S Hosey 1
	    G Kawai 1

[The Swallows won again.  The Swallows went ahaed with
 the homer of Hosey in the second inning.  In the 9th
 inning, just after Kawai's homer,  Hata's blooper dropped
 just before CF Matsui and the Swallows won.  Somehow,
 Takatsu didn't appeaered in the bottom of the last inning.
 FYI, Kobayakawa, who hit 3 homers yesterday, got 4 strikeouts]


At Tokyo Dome

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

	WP: Komiyama	(1W)
	LP: Nishizaki	(1L)
	HR: M Igarashi 1, Shimizu 1

	Pacific League has started, too.
	(A game at Kobe was rained out)

[Komiyama pitched very well to shut the Fighters out.
 Two Marine rookie started and went good: Kosaka,
 who fields shortstop and hit the second, went 3 for
 3, including a 2-run double in the second inning.
 Marine catcher Shimizu homered in the 7th inning.
 Fighter starter Nishizaki was too bad]

    At Tokyo Dome, a popular voice actress Shiina Hekiru
threw the first pitch.  At Seibu a popular singer Watanabe
Misato again threw the first pitch.  At Kobe, a popular
news caster Komiya Etsuko, a fan of whom BW manger Ohgi is,
was going to throw the first pitch, but it was rained out.
Ohgi said her to wait until October, that is to say, the
first pitch of Japan series at Kobe :-)


At Seibu

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

	WP: Takeda	(1W)
	Sv: Kimura	(1S)
	LP: Nishiguchi	(1L)
	Hd: H Sakumoto Okamoto
	HR: H Yoshinaga 1, Akiyama 1

[The game delaied 55 minutes because of rain.
 In the top of the first inning, Muramatsu walked,
 stole second base, advanced to third with a fly
 to left field, and came back to home by a sacrifice
 fly of Akiyama.  In late innings, the Hawks went
 ahead with homers of Yoshinaga and Akiyama.
 Akiyama's homer is the 383rd homer in his career.
 He now stands the 13th place with career homeruns,
 leaving Hara of the Giants and Ohshima of the
 Dragons and the Fighers (382).  FYI, Yamauchi is
 the 12th place with 396 homers, and Nagashima
 the 11th place with 444 homers]


[Results on April 6]

At Hiroshima

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

	WP: Nakagomi	(1W)
	Sv: Tamura	(1S)
	LP: Yamasaki	(1L)
	HR: T Hiratsuka 1, Hiratsuka 2, Hiatt 1
	    C Lopez 1

[Nakagomi has come back.  He has won since October 1993.
 Hiratsuka got back-to-back homers, Wada and Shinjyo made
 nice fielding.  In the last inning, the Carp came back,
 but Tamura, the sixth pitcher of the Tigers, managed to
 save the team]


At Nagoya Dome

BayStars   | 0 0 0   0 2 0   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Kawamura	(1W)
	Sv: Sasaki	(2S)
	LP: Maeda	(1L)

[Kawamura of the Bay Stars has become the first winning
 pitcher among the rookies in both leagues.  Sasaki again
 got a save.  The Bay Stars seem to be good in April :-)]


At Tokyo Dome

Swallows   | 0 0 1   0 0 0   2 0 1 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 2 1   0 2 0   0 0 X | 5

	WP: Kuwata	(1W)
	Sv: Kida	(1S)
	LP: Yamamoto	(1L)
	HR: S Hosey 2
	    G Kiyohara 1

[Kuwata has come back.  He went to the end of the 6th
 inning to be the winning pitcher.  Yamabe, the third
 Swallow pitcher, was so bad that he gave up three
 continuous walks and a 2-run RBI hit in the 5th inning]


At Tokyo Dome

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

	WP: Kuroki	(1W)
	LP: Gross	(1L)
	HR: M Ohmura 1

[Kuroki pitched a complete game.  The Marines turned
 the game over in the 7th inning with a 2-run homer of
 Ohmura.  Ochiai went 1 for 4, got 3 strikeouts and
 a stolen base!]

    The other two games of the PL were rained out, so
the Blue Wave and the Buffaloes can't start the season yet.


[Results on April 8]

At Yokohama

Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 5   0 2 4 |11
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 4 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 5

	WP: Yamazaki	(1W)
	LP: Morinaka	(1L)
	HR: T Hiyama 1, Hiatt 2, Yagi 1, Hiyama 2
	    YB Shindoh 1

[The Tigers won with 4 homers.  Tiger starter Yabu was
 so bad that he allowed 4 runs in the second inning.
 In the top of the 6th inning, Hiyama got a 3-run homer
 and Hiatt a 2-run homer.  After Tiger fielders threw out
 a runner at the plate in the 6th inning, Yagi homered
 in the 7th inning.  At last, in the last inning,  Hiyama
 hit a grand slam]


At Jingu

Carp       | 0 1 0   0 0 2   0 3 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 1 0 0   2 1 2   1 3 X |10

	WP: Yoshii	(1W)
	LP: Takahashi,K.	(1L)
	HR: S Furuta 1

[The Carp made comeback	in late innings, but Carp
 pitchers allowed runs just after the Carp scored.
 Nomura seems to manage very well so far]


At Tokyo Dome

Dragons    | 0 0 1   0 6 0   0 0 0 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 4 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 4

	WP: Nakayama	(1W)
	Sv: Sun	(2S)
	LP: Galvez	(1L)

[Both starters, Ochiai and Galvez, suddenly became bad.
 The Giants scored 4 runs in the second, whereas the Dragons
 scored 6 runs in the 5th.  Nakayama and Sun pitched well
 and the Dragons beated the Giants]


At Osaka Dome

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

	WP: Takamura	(1W)
	Sv: Akahori	(1S)
	LP: Dennis	(1L)
	HR: Bu Suzuki 1

[The season of Buffaloes finally started.  Takamura was
 so bad in the first inning that he hit a batter on bases
 loaded, but after that he pitched well.  Suzuki got the
 first homer in Osaka Dome at the 4th inning]


At Seibu

BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 2 1   1 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 4 | 5

	WP: Takeshita	(1W)
	LP: Suzuki	(1L)
	HR: BW D.J 1, Ogawa 1
	    L Martinez 1

[The Blue Wave almost won thier first game, but they lost.
 Doug Jennings and Ogawa got back-to-back homers in the 5th
 and the Blue Wave went ahead.  Ichiro doubled in the 6th
 to drive one run in.  In the bottom of the 9th,  Hoshino,
 the Blue Wave starter, left the mound after Martinez homered.
 But closer Suzuki was bad.  The final batter Matsui grounded
 to left side of first baseman and the ball was turned 1B to
 pitcher but Matsui's speed made him to reach the first base
 and the Lions won]


At Fukuoka Dome

Fighters   | 2 0 0   2 0 1   0 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 0 0 1   2 0 2   2 0 X | 7

	WP: Fujii	(1W)
	Sv: Kimura	(2S)
	LP: Sekine	(1L)
	HR: F Taguchi 1
	    H Jojima 1

[The Hawks went ahead in late innings.  It was too
 bad that Sekine of the Fighers gave up a walk on
 bases loaded in the 7th.  Now the Hawks are not
 what they used to be last season :-)]


[Results on April 9]

At Yokohama

Tigers     | 3 3 2   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 3 | 4

	WP: Yufune	(1W)
	LP: Morita	(2L)
	HR: YB Rose 1

[The Tigers are hot now.  Today, they scored 8 runs
 early in the game without any homeruns.  Bay Star
 fielders were credited with four errors in total.
 Yufune pitched a complete game though he allowed
 three runs in the last inning]


At Jingu

Carp       | 0 1 1   0 2 0   0 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 1 0 5   0 1 0   0 0 X | 7

	WP: Okabayashi	(1W)
	Sv: Itoh,T.	(1S)
	LP: Katoh	(1L)
	HR: C Ogata 2
	    S Iida 1, Ikeyama 1, Hosey 3, Kobayakawa 4

[Okabayashi has come back.  Ito Tomohito also got a
 save.  Swallow hitters got 4 homers against Carp
 pitchers so they are now bazooka line-up :-)]


At Tokyo Dome

Dragons    | 0 0 0   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 1 0 0   6 0 2   0 0 X | 9

	WP: Makihara	(1W)
	LP: Udoh	(1L)
	HR: D Taihoh 1
	    G Matsui 2

[Makihara pitched well.  Hoshino switched Udoh
 into Idemoto in the 4th inning when Udoh allowed
 two hits with no outs, but Dragon set-ups Idemoto
 and Daitoh were too bad.  Now the Giants escaped
 from the bottom :-)]


At Osaka Dome

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

	Hd: M Kawamoto
	HR: M Hatsushiba 1

(Tie Game)

Pitchers:
M  Yabuta-Kawamoto-Narimoto-Sonokawa-Yoshida
Bu Ishige-Nishikawa-Kubo-Sano-Akahori

[Ishige started for the Buffaloes.  He pitched
 for four innings, allowing 2 runs and 1 earned run.
 Narimoto, the Marine closer, was not so good that
 the Buffaloes tied with the Marines in the 9th.
 Sonokawa appeared on the mound following Narimoto.
 He had chance to win, but he counldn't]


At Seibu

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

	WP: Noda	(1W)
	LP: Shintani	(1L)
	HR: BW Ogawa 2, Neel 1

[The Blue Wave bombed Shinatani and Ishii Takashi.
 Ichiro got 3 hits and Neel drove 4 runs in]


At Fukuoka Dome

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

	WP: Kudoh	(1W)
	Sv: Sakumoto	(1S)
	LP: Imai	(1L)
	Hd: H Jose Okamoto
	HR: H Yoshinaga 2

[Four Hawk pitchers shut the Lions out.  The Hawks
 haven't lost any game yet whereas the Fighters
 haven't win :-)  A Fighter rookie Imai started and
 he allowed only 3 runs in six innings but he had bad luck]


[Results on April 10]

At Yokohama

Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 2 1   1 0 3 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 4   1 0 1   0 2 X | 8

	WP: Nomura	(1W)
	Sv: Sasaki	(3S)
	LP: Funaki	(1L)
	HR: T Hiratsuka 3, Shinjyo 1
	    YB Rose 2, Tanishige 1

[The Bay Stars went ahead with the grand slam
 of Rose in the 4th inning.  In the last inning,
 the Tigeres came back.  Shinjo got a 3-run homer
 off Sasaki who had just appeared.  But none of
 the following batters couldn't reach first]


At Jingu

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

	WP: Sawazaki	(1W)
	LP: Takatsu	(1L)
	HR: C Perez 1

[Ohno started for the Carp, and he was pretty good.
 He had bad luck because the only run he allowed caused
 by two continous errors.  Carp rookie Sawazaki went
 to the mound from the 9th through the end of the game.
 Perez presented him his first win by his homerun
 in the 11th inning]


At Tokyo Dome

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

	WP: Yamamoto	(2W)
	Sv: Sun	(3S)
	LP: Okajima	(1L)
	HR: D Nakamura 1
	    G Hirosawa 1

[Yamamoto was ejected when Hirosawa got a
 2-run homer in the 9th inning.  Dragon
 closer Sun allowed two hits and one sacrifice
 fly so that the Giants still had chance of
 runner on first with one out.  But Sun got
 strikeouts against Nishi and Kawai (just before
 Matsui) and the Dragons won]


At Osaka Dome

Marines    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 3 0   0 0 0   1 1 X | 5

	WP: Koike	(1W)
	LP: Takekiyo	(1L)
	HR: Bu Nakamura 1

[Koike pitched his first shutout game.  He allowed only
 four hits.  The starter of the Marines was a rookie pitcher
 Takekiyo.  He allowed 3 runs in the second with a homerun
 and a passed ball.  Narimoto, a Marine closer, appeared
 in the 8th, but he was too bad: he threw only eight pitches
 all of which were called ball]


At Seibu

BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 0 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 X | 2

	WP: Givens	(1W)
	LP: Hirai	(1L)

[Both starters Givens and Hirai pitched very well.
 In paticular, Givens became the second foreign pitcher
 who pitched a shutout game on his first game.  FYI,
 the first such pitcher is Checo (1995 Carp)]


At Fukuoka Dome

Fighters   | 1 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 2 0 3   0 5 0   0 1 X |11

	WP: Wakatabe	(1W)
	LP: Imazeki	(1L)
	HR: H Kokubo 1

[In the top of the first inning, the Fighters had chance
 of runners on second and third with no outs after they
 scored one run, but the following batters, Ochiai,
 Wilson and Brooks couldn't drive any run in.  The Hawks
 batters got 11 hits in total, and 1B Yoshinaga helped
 starter Wakatabe, who started for the first time in recent
 one year and 8 months, by catching a line drive near the
 right foul line on bases loaded in the top of the 5th]


[Results on April 11]

At Koshien

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

	WP: Saitoh,M.	(1W 1L)
	Sv: Kida	(2S)
	LP: Kawajiri	(2L)
	HR: T Shinjyo 2

[The Tigers came back in late innings, but could't
 catch up.  Kakuri threw at pitch in the 8th inning.
 He pitched well in that inning, but he allowed one
 run in the 9th after two outs]

    The Tigers have announced that Mike Greenwell
will come back to Japan on April 30.


At Yokohama

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

	WP: Yamauchi	(2W)
	LP: Kawamura	(1W 1L)
	HR: C Lopez 2, Kanemoto 1

[Bay Star rookie Kawamura left the mound in the 6th inning.
 He was not very good so that he threw 127 pitches and gave
 6 walks up.  Yamauchi pitched a complete game to win]


At Nagoya Dome

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

	WP: Itoh,T.	(1W)
	Sv: Yamabe	(1S)
	LP: Nakayama	(1W 1L)

[Dragon starter Ochiai almost pitched a shutout game, but
 he was switched into Kitano at the pinch of runners on
 first and third with two outs in the 9th.  Kitano allowed
 PH Dobashi to single, and the game got into extra innings.
 In the top of the 13th, Kobayakawa got a game-winning
 infield hit to second baseman to finish the game of
 4 hours 58 minutes length]


At Chiba

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

	WP: Toyoda	(1W)
	Sv: Robert	(1S)
	LP: Komiyama	(1W 1L)
	Hd: L Ishii, Take. Ishii, Taka.

[Komiyama was so unlucky:  in the 5th, he lost one run after
 an infield error.  In the 6th, a blooper became a 2-run double.
 In the 8th, batted ball hit Komiyama with his right arm and
 he was ejected. After the game, he said only one word:"Ouch"]


At Fukuoka Dome

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

	WP: Itoh	(1W)
	Sv: Suzuki	(1L 1S)
	LP: Sakumoto	(1L 1S)

[The Blue Wave stopped the winning series of the Hawks.
 Sakumoto gave up a walk for Neel on bases loaded in
 the 10th inning, after got Ichiro a flied out]


At Osaka Dome

Fighters   | 0 2 0   0 0 0   1 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 1 3   0 0 0   0 0 X | 4

	WP: Yamasaki	(1W)
	Sv: Akahori	(2S)
	LP: Shibakusa	(1L)
	Hd: Bu Nishikawa Kiyokawa
	HR: F Brooks 1
	    Bu Clark 1, Rhodes 1

[Shibakusa pitched a complete game but he lost.  The Fighters
 went ahead with two-run shot of Brooks, but Rhodes shot a 3-run
 homer in the 3rd.  In the top of the 7th inning, the Fighters
 had chance of a runner on second with no out after they scored
 one run.  They got two more basehits in the inning, but they
 couldn't score any more runs]


[Results on April 12]

At Koshien

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

	WP: Kawaguchi	(1W)
	Sv: Kida	(3S)
	LP: Yamazaki	(1W 1L)
	HR: G Matsui 3

[Takeuchi pitched very well.  In the top of the 8th,
 Kawai hit a low half line drive to Takeuchi. The
 batted ball hit his glove and turned to second baseman
 and Kawai reached to first base.  After that Takeuchi
 allowed Matsui to hit a 2-run homer near the left foul
 pole.  It winded from right to left]


At Yokohama

Carp       | 2 0 0   6 6 0   0 0 0 |14
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 0   1 2 1   3 0 1 | 8

	WP: Sawazaki	(2W)
	LP: Morinaka	(2L)
	HR: C Maeda 1, Kanemoto 2, Nishiyama 1, Etoh 1
	    YB Rose 3

[What a game.  Yokohama got 21 hits in total but scored 8 runs
 whereas Hiroshima got 14 hits and scored 14 runs.  Kohiyama,
 who pitched in the 5th inning, was too bad]


At Nagoya Dome

Swallows   | 4 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Yamamoto	
	LP: Maeda	
	HR: D Powell 2

[Dragon starter Maeda was bad only in the first inning.
 Swallow starter Yamamoto pitched a complete game.
 Powell's shot in the first inning had gone to the highest
 deck in the left stand and the offical scorer announced
 that it flied about 160 meters]


At Chiba

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

	WP: Nishiguchi	(1W 1L)
	LP: Kuroki	(1W 1L)
	HR: L Tanabe 1, Martinez 2

[Nishiguchi got 12 strikeouts.  He got 7 continuous
 strike outs.  Moreover, he got 4 strike outs in the
 second inning (a batter reached to first because the
 third strike became a wild pitch).  Now the Marines
 lost four games in a row]


At Fukuoka Dome

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

	WP: Satoh	(1W)
	Sv: Kobayashi	(1S)
	LP: Tanoue	(1L)

[Satoh, 42 years old Blue Wave pitcher, went to the 7th inning
 to get his first win this season.  Tanoue threw for 8 innings,
 but Hawk batters couldn't help him.  They got only two hits
 in total]


At Osaka Dome

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

	WP: Gross	(1W 1L)
	LP: Teramae	(1L)

[Gross pitched a shutout game to lead the Fighters to
 thier first win this season.  This win is the career
 3000th win for the Fighters]


[Results on April 13]

At Koshien

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

	WP: Yabu	(1W)
	LP: Kuwata	(1W 1L)
	HR: T Hiatt 3

[Yabu pitched a shutout game.  Catcher Johzume helped
 him very well.  In the second, Hiatt hit a 2-run shot
 just after Kawai missed to throw and failed to turn a
 double play.  In the top of the 8th,  Nishi, the lead-off
 of this inning, grounded to pitcher.  The batted ball
 hit the glove of Yabu and went behind of him, which
 remined the batted ball of Kawai yesterday.  But tonight
 Yabu caught it and threw out at the first]


At Yokohama

Carp       | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 1   0 0 0   0 0 | 3
-----------+-------------------------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 1   0 1 1   0 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 | 4

	WP: Kawahara	(1W)
	LP: Tamaki,S.	(1L)
	HR: C Nomura 1
	    YB Selby 1

[Nomura of the Carp got a homerun with two outs
 in the 9th inning on the count 3-0.  But Nomura
 made short throwing to first with two outs and
 runners on second and third in the 14th inning
 so the Bay Stars won]


At Nagoya Dome

Swallows   | 0 0 0   2 0 0   0 0 6 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 1 0 | 2

	WP: Katoh	(1W 2S)
	LP: Kitano	(1L)
	HR: S Inaba 2

[The Swallows is hot now.  In the 9th inning, Inaba
 got a game-winning 3-run homer]


At Chiba

Lions      | 1 0 0   0 0 2   0 2 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 0 0 2   0 0 4   0 0 X | 6

	WP: Kondoh	(1W)
	Sv: Kawamoto	(1S)
	LP: Yokota	(1L)

[Marine rookie Kosaka is pretty good.  He got three hits:
 in the 3rd, he tripled to drive two runs in.  In the 6th,
 he singled to right field with runner on first.  The RF
 juggled the ball and the first runner scored to tie the game]


At Fukuoka Dome

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

	WP: West	(1W)
	Sv: Kimura	(2S)
	LP: Toyoda	(1L)
	HR: BW Neel 2
	    H Yoshinaga 3, Shibahara 1

[Hawk rookie Shibahara (RF) started for the first time.
 He got his first hit in the 4th, and his first homerun
 in the 6th, which became the game-winning homerun in
 the end]


At Osaka Dome

Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 2 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 2 0 0   2 2 0   0 0 X | 6

	WP: Kohda	(1W)
	Sv: Sano	(1S)
	LP: Kaneishi	(1L)
	HR: Bu Suzuki 2, Clark 2

[Kaneishi started for the first time in recent 4 years, but
 he was ejected with only 17 pitches.  Kohda of the Dragons
 pitched very well.  He had to leave the mound in the 9th
 inning, but anyway he won]


[Results on April 15]

At Koshien

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

	WP: Koike	(1W)
	Sv: Sun	(4S)
	LP: Nakagomi	(1W 1L)
	HR: D Gomez 1

[Nakagomi and Koike pitched well.  In paticular, Koike didn't
 allow any hit until the end of the 5th inning.  The Tigers
 came back in the 8th inning.  After they scored one run,
 Hiyama appeared on the chance of bases loaded with two outs
 but Dragon closer Sun got him a flied out]


At Jingu

BayStars   | 0 0 0   0 0 1   1 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 0 0   4 0 0   2 0 X | 6

	WP: Yoshii	(2W)
	LP: Morita	(3L)
	HR: YB Rose 4

[The Swallows are now very hot.  Yoshii not only pitched
 a complete game, but also he got a 2-run RBI hit]


At Hiroshima

Giants     | 2 2 0   0 0 0   0 1 2 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 0 0 2   0 0 0   0 0 2 | 4

	WP: Galvez	(1W 1L)
	Sv: Kawaguchi	(1W 1S)
	LP: Katoh	(2L)
	HR: G Sugiyama 1, Nishi 1
	    C Nomura 2

[The Giants went ahead with a RBI hit of Kiyohara
 in the first inning.  In the second inning, Sugiyama
 homered to left stand.  After Nomura got a 2-run homer
 in the third, both teams couldn't score for a while.
 In the 8th, Nishi homered and in the 9th the Giants scored
 more two runs.  In the bottom of the 9th inning, the Carp
 came back but it was too late]


At Nagoya Dome

Marines    | 2 0 0   0 0 1   0 1 3 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 0   4 0 0   0 0 0 | 4

	WP: Kawamoto	(1W 1S)
	LP: Nomura	(1L)
	HR: M Carreon 1, Carreon 2
	    BW Fujii 1

[Carreon led the Marines to win.  He homerd in the
 8th to tie the game, and in the 9th he got a game-
 winning 2-run homer]


At Tokyo Dome

Lions      | 0 0 0   1 1 0   0 0 4 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Shiozaki	(1W)
	LP: Iwamoto	(1L)
	HR: L Martinez 3, Takagi, T. 1

[The Lions scored 6 runs with 7 hits.  Fighter starter
 Iwamoto pitched well but Fighter hitters could't help him.
 Takagi's grand slam in the 9th was a inside-the-park homerun]


At Osaka Dome

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

	WP: Kudoh	(2W)
	Sv: Kimura	(4S)
	LP: Takamura	(1W 1L)
	HR: H Kokubo 2, Hamana 1
	    Bu Mizuguchi 1

[The Hawks now led the PL.  Kudoh allowed 6 walks in
 four innings, but Buffalo hitters scored no runs.
 In the 5th, the Hawks scored 2 runs with bad fielding
 of the Buffloes]


[Results on April 16]

At Koshien

Dragons    | 0 1 0   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 1

	WP: Yamamoto	(3W)
	Sv: Sun	(5S)
	LP: Yufune	(1W 1L)
	HR: D Tatsunami 2

[Yufune pitched well, but Tiger hitters couldn't help him.
 In the bottom of the 9th, Hiatt tripled and rookie Imaoka
 doubled so that the Dragons had to switch the pitcher from
 starter Yamamoto to Sun.  Sun got two men outs, and the Tigers
 lost another 1-run game]


At Jingu

BayStars   | 0 1 2   0 1 1   3 0 0 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 4 4   2 2 0   1 1 X |14

	WP: Bross	(2W)
	LP: Nomura	(1W 1L)
	HR: YB Suzuki,T. 1, Haru 1, Komada 1
	    S Hosey 4, Inaba 3, Dobashi 1, Inaba 4

[The Swallows presented Nomura his career 1000th win as manager.
 Inaba got back-to-back homers in the 3rd and the 5th.
 His shot in the third was a grand slam]


At Hiroshima

Giants     | 2 0 0   0 0 0   0 2 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 0 0 4   0 5 0   0 0 X | 9

	WP: Ohno	(1W)
	LP: Makihara	(1W 1L)
	HR: C Lopez 3, Maeda 1

[The Carp batters bombed Makihara and Okada.
 Ohno, a 41 year old Carp starter, went to the end of the
 6th inning to get his first win this season]


At Nagoya Dome

Marines    | 1 0 3   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 1 0 0   0 0 3   1 1 X | 6

	WP: Kobayashi	(1W 1S)
	LP: Kishikawa	(1L)
	HR: BW Neel 3

[Marine rookie Takekiyo couldn't win.  He was removed when
 the Blue Wave tied the game in the 7th inning.  In the 8th
 inning, Doug Jennings grounded near the right foul line with
 two outs and a runner on second.   Thompson dived and got it
 but he couldn't get D.J out at the first, so the seocnd runner
 scored]


At Tokyo Dome

Lions      | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 5 0 0   0 0 0   0 2 X | 7

	WP: Imai	(1W 1L)
	LP: Shintani	(2L)

[Ochiai went 4 for 4 and the Fighters beated the Lions.
 Imai has become the first rookie pitcher who pitched
 a shutout game in this season]


At Osaka Dome

Hawks      | 0 0 0   0 0 0   6 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 3 0 4   1 0 0   0 4 X |12

	WP: Ishige	(1W)
	Sv: Akahori	(3S)
	LP: Wakatabe	(1W 1L)
	HR: Bu Yoshioka 1

[The Buffaloes has come back to the top.  Ishige got
 his first win as a starter.  Yoshioka, who was also traded
 from the Giants last off, got a 3-run in the 8th]


[Results on April 17]

At Koshien

Dragons    | 0 0 0   3 1 5   0 1 0 |10
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 3   0 0 0 | 3

	WP: Ochiai	(1W)
	LP: Kawajiri	(3L)
	HR: D Nakamura 2

[Kawajiri allowed Namamura to get a 3-run homer in the 4th.
 In the 6th, Yamazaki became too bad after he got two outs:
 he allowed 2 hits and 3 walks.  Now the Tigers lost three
 games in a row at the home]


At Jingu

BayStars   | 2 1 0   0 0 2   0 1 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 0 1   4 0 1   0 1 X | 7

	WP: Itoh,T.	(2W 1S)
	LP: Kawahara	(1W 1L)
	HR: YB Tanishige 2, Selby 2
	    S Inaba 5, Kobayakawa 5, Dobashi 2

[The Swallows won't stop.  In the 4th inning,
 the Swallows turned the game with 3 homers.
 In the 8th, they went ahead with a suicide
 squeeze play]


At Hiroshima

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

	WP: Kawaguchi	(2W 1S)
	Sv: Kida	(4S)
	LP: Yokoyama	(1L)
	HR: G Matsui 4, Sugiyama 2, Nishi 2, Matsui 5
	    C Maeda 2

[In the top of the 8th, after the Carp tied the game
 in the bottom of the 7th, Matsui got a game-winning
 homerun, hitting a low forkball.  Kida pitches very
 well as a Giant closer]


At Nagoya Dome

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

	WP: Yoshida	(1W)
	Sv: Kawamoto	(1W 2S)
	LP: Suzuki	(2L 1S)

[Blue Wave relievers were bad in the last inning.
 Suzuki allowed two continuous hits and he was switched
 into Nomura.  Nomura gave up two continuous walks after
 a sacrifice bunt.  Blue Wave starter Hirai pitched well
 but he couldn't win]

   Narimoto, a Marine closer, has injured with his
right elbow.  He will be missed for several weeks.


At Tokyo Dome

Lions      | 0 0 1   2 2 1   3 0 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 5 0   0 0 0   0 2 0 | 7

	WP: Givens	(2W)
	Sv: Robert	(2S)
	LP: Takahashi,N.	(1L)
	Hd: L Sugiyama
	HR: L Itoh 1, Matsui 1, Sasaki 1

[The Lions turned the game today.  Gross, who started
 five days ago, started for the Fighters, but he was
 not good]


At Osaka Dome

Hawks      | 2 2 0   0 0 0   1 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 1 2 2   0 0 0   0 1 X | 6

	WP: Sano	(1W 1S)
	Sv: Akahori	(4S)
	LP: Okamoto	(1L)
	HR: H Matsunaga 1
	    Bu Nakamura 2, Clark 3

[In the bottom of the 8th inning, Clark got a game-winning
 homerun to left stand]


[Results on April 18]

At Fukuoka Dome

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

	WP: Tabata	(2W)
	LP: Funaki	(2L)
	HR: S Ikeyama 2

[Tabata pitched a shutout game and the Swallows
 won seven games in a row.  Tiger starter Funaki
 was too bad.  The Tigers lost four games in a row
 to go down to the bottom]


At Chiba

Hawks      | 0 0 3   0 0 1   3 1 0 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 5 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 6

	WP: West	(2W)
	Sv: Kimura	(5S)
	LP: Kishikawa	(2L)
	Hd: H Jose
	Hd: M Kondoh
	HR: H Kokubo 3

[The Marines led by 5 runs in the first inning, but
 they relinquish the lead.  In the top of the 7th
 inning, Muramatsu doubled to tie the game at first.
 The Hawks still had chance of runners on second and
 third with two outs.  The Marines gave an intentional
 walk for the batter Kokubo, but the next batter Yanagita
 got a game-winning 2-run hit]


At Kobe

Fighters   | 0 6 3   0 0 0   0 3 0 |12
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 2 0   0 1 0   0 2 0 | 5

	WP: Shibakusa	(1W 1L)
	LP: Fraser	(1L)
	HR: F Wilson 1, Ide 1, Ochiai 1
	    BW Fujii 2, Ogawa 3, Ogawa 4

[Fraser was too bad.  Shibakusa pitched a complete game.
 Kase, a Blue Wave outfielder, threw for the first time
 in regular season.  He pitched in the 7th and 8th inning
 but he allowed Ochiai to hit a 3-run homer]


At Seibu

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

	WP: Toyoda	(2W)
	LP: Koike	(1W 1L)
	HR: L Kanemura 1, Martinez 4, Tanabe 2

[Toyoda missed a shutout game but pitched a complete game.
 Kanemura, who was traded from the Dragons this month,
 got his first homer as a Lion player.  In the 6th, Martinez,
 who is called "Maru-chan", hit a 3-run shot to center]


[Results on April 19]

At Fukuoka Dome

Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 4 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 0 0 2   0 0 0   2 0 1 | 5

	WP: Itoh,T.	(3W 1S)
	LP: Kasai	(1L)
	HR: T Hiatt 4
	    S Satoh,S. 1

[In the top of the 9th, Wada doubled to drive one run in.
 Following him, Hiatt got a 3-run homer off Itoh Tomohito
 to tie the game.  But, Kasai allowed Satoh Shinichi to
 get a game-ending homer]


At Tokyo Dome

BayStars   | 0 1 0   0 0 3   3 0 0 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 4   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 5

	WP: Sasaki	(1W 3S)
	LP: Iriki	(1L)
	HR: YB Rose 5, Ishii,T. 1
	    G Matsui 6

[In the top of the 7th,  Kawaguchi appeared on the
 mound when two men on and the batter was Ishii.
 But Kawaguchi hit Ishii with his head and he was
 automatically ejected because of the rule of "Dangerous
 pitch".  Kida relieved him but Kida allowed Rose
 and Selby to get RBI hits.  Sasaki of the Bay Stars
 pitched the last two innings to win]


At Gifu

Dragons    | 3 4 0   0 0 0   0 2 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 1 0 4   2 3 0   1 2 X |13

	WP: Perdomo	(1W)
	LP: Idemoto	(1L)
	HR: C Kanemoto 3, Kanemoto 4, Lopez 4, Maeda 3, Seto 1

[The Carp turned the game with 20 hits, including 5 homers.
 Perdomo threw from the 4th inning through the 7th inning
 to get his first win, allowing only 3 hits.  Perdomo was
 an infielder the last season]


At Chiba

Hawks      | 0 0 0   0 2 0   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 1 0 0   1 0 2   0 0 X | 4

	WP: Takekiyo	(1W 1L)
	Sv: Kawamoto	(1W 3S)
	LP: Tanoue	(2L)
	Hd: M Yoshida

[Marine rookie Takekiyo, who relieved Sonokwa in the 5th,
 got his first win.  Hirai got the game-winning triple in
 the 6th inning]


At Kobe

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

	WP: Nomura	(1W 1L)
	LP: Shimoyanagi	(1L)
	HR: BW Fujii 3

[Shimoyanagi, who appeared in the second inning
 with bases loaded and no outs, pitched very well.
 He seemed to be tired in the 9th inning, but the Hawks
 made him go on.  He finally allowed Ichiro to get a RBI
 single and he was removed with the bases loaded and
 one out.  Fujii got a game-ending hit off Yamahara]


At Seibu

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

	WP: Nishiguchi	(2W 1L)
	LP: Teramae	(2L)
	HR: L Kakiuchi 1

[Kakiuchi got a game-winning 2-run homer in the 4th inning.
 Nishiguchi pitched a complete game.  Now the Lions is
 the leader in the Pacific League since July 14th, 1995]


[Results on April 20]

At Fukuoka Dome

Tigers     | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1
-----------+-----------------------+--
Swallows   | 1 0 1   1 1 0   0 4 X | 8

	WP: Yoshii	(3W)
	LP: Takeuchi	(1L)
	HR: S Inaba 6

[The Swallows now won 9 games in a row.  They scored in various
 ways:  In the first, Inaba homered.  In the second, Tsuji got
 a RBI double. in the 4th, Yoshii successed a suicide squeeze play.
 In the 5th,  Ikeyama and Inaba successed double stolen bases and
 Inaba scored]


At Tokyo Dome

BayStars   | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   0 1 0   0 3 X | 4

	WP: Kawaguchi	(3W 1S)
	LP: Morita	(4L)
	HR: YB Tanishige 3

[Morita pitched so well that he allowed only 3 hits,
 two of which was a RBI hit by Sugiyama.  It was pity
 for the Bay Stars that Bay Star reliever Shimada gave
 up the 4th hit of the Giants for Nishi, which drove
 two runs in.  Because Tanishige homered off Kawaguchi
 in the 9th inning.
     Kuwata started for the Giants.  He went to the end
 of the 7th inning, threw 88 pitches.  In the top of the
 8th, Kawaguchi appeared against Ishii, whom Kawaguchi hit
 on his head yestarday.  Kawaguchi got Ishii strikeout and
 he became the winning pitcher]


At Gifu

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

	WP: Yokoyama	(1W 1L)
	LP: Kadokura	(1L)
	HR: D Gomez 2
	    C Etoh 2, Nishiyama 2

[In the 7th inning, the Carp scored 5 runs with only one
 hit, but the hit was a grand slam by Nishiyama.  Yokoyama,
 who appeared in the 7th inning, got his career first win.
      There was an silly call in the top of the 4th:
 Nakamura's shot which went near the left foul pole was
 firstly called a homerun, but corrected just a foul ball later.
 It was indeed a foul ball]


At Chiba

Hawks      | 0 1 1   1 0 0   4 2 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Kudoh	(3W)
	LP: Komiyama	(1W 2L)
	HR: H Kokubo 4, Kokubo 5

[In the 7th inning, on bases empty with two outs, Komiyama
 allowed Kokubo to get his second homer to left stand.
 He was removed after he gave up two men on, but the Hawks
 bombed reliever Gotoh and blew the Marines out]


At Kobe

Fighters   | 0 1 0   1 0 1   0 2 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
BlueWave   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   1 0 0 | 1

	WP: Sekine	(1W 1L)
	Sv: Shimazaki	(1S)
	LP: Itoh	(1W 1L)
	HR: F Wilson 2, Brooks 2, Ochiai 2

[Shimazaki pitched well for the last 2.1 innings to
 lead the Fighters to win.  Ochiai got the first homer
 off 'pro' pitcher Itoh in the 6th :-)]


At Seibu

Buffaloes  | 4 0 0   1 0 0   0 2 1 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 0 2 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Kohda	(2W)
	Sv: Sano	(1W 2S)
	LP: Yokota	(2L)
	HR: Bu Yamamoto 1

[The Buffaloes beated the Lions to come back to the top.
 Denny (Tomori Yui) of the Lions appeared in the 8th
 inning but he allowed 3 runs in two innings]


[Results on April 22]

At Koshien

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

	WP: Yufune	(2W 1L)
	LP: Nomura	(1W 2L)
	HR: T Hiratsuka 4

[The Tigers stopped their losing streak.  In the 3rd inning,
 Hiyama singled to drive two runs in and the Tigers went ahead.
 They got 13 hits in the end.  It was unlucky for the Bay Stars
 that there was a bad call in the second inning:  Nomura bunted
 with runner on first, and Johzume got the ball to throw to the
 second. It seemed to be safe, but called out]


At Hiroshima

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

	WP: Katoh	(1W 2L)
	Sv: Sasaoka	(2S)
	LP: Yamabe	(1L 1S)
	HR: S Inaba 7
	    C Kanemoto 5

[The Carp stopped the Swallows.  Swallow starter Yamabe
 was too bad]


At Nagoya Dome

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

	WP: Yamamoto	(4W)
	Sv: Sun	(6S)
	LP: Galvez	(1W 2L)
	HR: G Kawai 2

[The Dragons was very lucky.  They tied the game with
 an error of Luis in the 6th.  In the 7th,  batted ball
 by Torigoe grounded through the hole (it hopped highly
 and it passed just rightside of 3B and just leftside
 of SS) and second runner scored.  Sun again saved the
 Dragons, getting the last batter out in the 9th inning]


At Kagoshima

Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 1 3   0 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 1 0 0   1 0 0   1 3 X | 6

	WP: Kondoh	(2W)
	Sv: Kawamoto	(1W 4S)
	LP: Sano	(1W 1L 2S)
	HR: Bu Yamamoto 2

[In the bottom of the 8th,  Akahori allowed Nimura
 to get a RBI single and the Marines tied the game.
 Buffaloe 3B Nakamura had made two continuous throwing
 errors to present more two runs for the Marines]


At Kobe

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

	WP: Hoshino	(1W)
	LP: Shiozaki	(1W 1L)

[Hoshino pitched a complete game.  Donnels, who was fired
 by the Buffaloes and was picked up by the Blue Wave this
 April, went 2 for 3, drove one run in and scored one run]


At Tokyo Dome

Hawks      | 0 0 1   0 0 1   4 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Fighters   | 1 2 0   0 0 0   1 0 3 | 7

	WP: Takahashi,N.	(1W 1L)
	LP: Kimura	(1L 5S)
	HR: H Kokubo 6
	    F Wilson 3, Wilson 4, Fujishima 1

[In the top of the 7th, the Hawks turned the game with
 a grond slam of Kokubo, but the Fighters made miracle
 comeback in the last inning.  It was two outs with
 bases empty.  Wilson got his second homer but still
 the Hawks led by one run.  After Ide reached to first
 with an infield hit, Fujisima homered to left stand]


[Results on April 23]

At Koshien

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

	WP: Kasai	(1W 1L)
	LP: Shimada	(1L)
	HR: YB Haru 2

[Both starters Nakagomi and Kawamura pitched well.
 In the 8th, the Tigers tied the game with a RBI triple
 of Wada.  Wada gets a hit in all 16 games this season.
 In the bottom of the 11th, Yagi walked on bases loaded
 with one out and the Tigers won]


At Hiroshima

Swallows   | 0 0 0   2 0 0   0 0 0 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
Carp       | 4 0 3   4 0 0   0 0 X |11

	WP: Ohno	(2W)
	LP: Bross	(2W 1L)

[Bross lost 11 runs in 4 innings.  He had hard luck
 and Swallow fielders made bad fielding.  OTOH, Ohno
 of the Carp went to the 7th inning to win]


At Nagoya Dome

Giants     | 1 0 4   3 1 0   0 1 2 |12
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Miyamoto	(1W)
	LP: Koike	(1W 1L)
	HR: G Kiyohara 2, Shimizu 1, Matsui 7, Sugiyama 3

[Kiyohara finally got his second homer in the 3rd
 after Matsui walked.  Dragon setups were not very
 good:  They gave up base hits after several walks.
 Miyamoto pitched a shutout game to be the first
 Giant pitcher who pitched a complete game this season]


At Kagoshima

Buffaloes  | 0 1 0   0 0 1   7 0 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Marines    | 1 0 0   0 0 0   2 0 1 | 4

	WP: Ishige	(2W)
	LP: Kuroki	(1W 2L)
	HR: Bu Yamamoto 3, Ohishi 1, Clark 4
	    M Hori 1, Carreon 3

[Kuroki seemed to be tired in the 7th inning.
 He was removed in the inning but Marine reliever
 gave up more and more hits]


At Kobe

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

	WP: Ishii, Taka.	(1W)
	Sv: Robert	(3S)
	LP: Mizuo	(1L)

[Ishii Takehiro started for the Lions.  He was removed
 in the 6th inning when he walked the lead-off.  But
 Ishii Takashi allowed Takahashi to get a RBI hit and
 the Blue Wave tied the game.  In the 7th, Suzuki Ken
 got a game-winning hit]


At Tokyo Dome

Hawks      | 3 0 0   0 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 0   0 2 0   0 0 2   0 1 | 5

	WP: Shimazaki	(1W 1S)
	LP: Sakumoto	(2L 1S)
	HR: H Yugamidani 1
	    F Tanaka 1, Wilson 5

[Again Wilson helped the Fighters and led them to win.
 In the 9th, he got a 2-run homer off Takeda, who almost
 pitched a complete game.  In the 11th, he doulbed with
 runner on first and no outs so that the Fighters had chance
 of bases loaded with no outs.  Taguchi chopped and
 the batted ball hopped over the head of SS.
 The Hawks got 16 hits but they lost]


[Results on April 24]

At Osaka Dome

BayStars   | 0 0 0   0 0 2   0 3 0   0 | 5
-----------+---------------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 0 0   0 0 0   3 2 0   1 | 6

	WP: Kasai	(2W 1L)
	LP: Morinaka	(3L)
	HR: YB Suzuki,T. 2, Shindoh 2
	    T Hiatt 5

[The Tigers again won with a walk on bases loaded.  Tonight,
 Kawahara gave up a walk for Hoshino in the 10th.  Actually,
 Sasaki gave up a walk for Hiatt on bases loaded in the 8th
 and the Tigers tied the game.  The Bay Stars should have
 sent Sasaki at the beginning of the bottom of the 8th]


At Hiroshima

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

	WP: Kawasaki	(1W)
	LP: Yamauchi	(2W 1L)
	HR: S Kobayakawa 6
	    C Etoh 3

[Kawasaki won for the first time since 1995, pitched a complete
 game since 1994.  He allowed only 3 hits, one of which was
 a homerun of Etoh with two outs in the 9th inning]


At Nagoya Dome

Giants     | 0 0 0   2 4 1   0 1 2 |10
-----------+-----------------------+--
Dragons    | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Makihara	(2W 1L)
	LP: Ochiai	(1W 1L)
	HR: G Shimizu 2, Matsui 8

[The Giants again blew the Dragons out.  Makihara pitched a
 shutout game, Kiyohara got two doubles, Matsui got a homer,
 which is his career 99th homer, and Shimizu is now in 7 AT
 consecutive hitting streak (10 PA consecutive streak of
 getting first)]


At Kobe

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

	WP: Hirai	(1W 1L)
	Sv: Kobayashi	(1W 2S)
	LP: Givens	(2W 1L)

[Hirai got his first win as a starter.  In the third
 inning with runners on first and second and two outs,
 the Blue Wave got three continuous basehits]


At Tokyo Dome

Hawks      | 0 0 0   0 0 0   5 0 0   0 | 5
-----------+---------------------------+--
Fighters   | 0 0 1   2 0 2   0 0 0   1 | 6

	WP: Takahashi,N.	(2W 1L)
	LP: Kimura	(2L 5S)
	HR: H Hamana 2
	    F Ide 2

[The Fighters again won a "sayonara" game.  In the 10th
 inning, the Fighters had a chance of bases loaded with
 one out when Ochiai appeared.  He grounded to third baseman
 Yugamidani, so we thought it would turn a double play.
 But somehow the ball danced in his glove (Yugamidani juggled
 the ball) and he couldn't throw to anywhere]


[Results on April 25]

At Koshien

Swallows   | 0 1 0   0 4 0   0 0 0 | 5
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 2 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Tabata	(3W)
	Sv: 	(1S)
	LP: Yabu	(1W 1L)
	HR: S Ikeyama 3, Hosey 5

[The Tigers lost four games against the Swallows.
 They went ahead with a double of Hiyama in the first
 inning, but Yabu allowed Hosey to hit a game-winning
 3-run homer]


At Yokohama

Dragons    | 2 1 1   0 2 0   0 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 1   1 0 4   0 1 0 | 7

	WP: Nishi	(1W)
	LP: Endoh	(1L)
	HR: D Gomez 3, Gomez 4
	    YB Rose 6, Tamura 1

[Nakayama of the Dragons was too bad.  He appeared
 in the 7th inning, and he walked three men in a row
 when runners were on first and third with two outs.
 After that Komada doubled to drive two runs in.
 In the 9th inning, Inoue got a sacrifice fly to
 right field after Ishii's triple]


At Tokyo Dome

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

	WP: Kuroda	(1W)
	LP: Nishiyama	(2L)
	HR: C Nomura 3, Etoh 4

[The Carp beated the Giants.  In the 4th inning Nishiyama hit
 Seto so that the Carp had chance of bases loaded with one
 out.  Nishiyama walked the next batter, pitcher Kuroda, and
 he was removed.  Reliever Iriki also walked Ogata and gave
 up a RBI single for Lopes]


At Fukuoka Dome

Marines    | 1 0 1   0 6 0   1 0 0 | 9
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 0 0 1   0 0 2   0 0 0 | 3

	WP: Takekiyo	(2W 1L)
	Sv: Yoshida	(1W 1S)
	LP: Tanoue	(3L)
	HR: H Pirkl 1

[The Marines scored 6 runs with 4 singles in the 5th.
 Rookie Takekiyo got his second win, pitching for 6 innings]


At Osaka Dome

BlueWave   | 0 0 3   0 1 0   1 0 3 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 1 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 1

	WP: Fraser	(1W 1L)
	LP: Yamasaki	(1W 1L)
	HR: BW Neel 4, Taguchi 1

[The Blue Wave beated the Buffaloes.  They scored 3 runs
 with 4 hits in both 3rd and 9th.  Fraser got his first
 win this season]


At Seibu

Fighters   | 0 0 3   0 0 2   0 0 2 | 7
-----------+-----------------------+--
Lions      | 1 0 0   1 0 0   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Shimoyanagi	(1W 1L)
	LP: Toyoda	(2W 1L)
	HR: F Tanaka 2, Taguchi 2

[Shimoyanagi led the Fighers to win.  He relieved
 Imazeki in the third inning with bases loaded and
 no outs.  He got three men strikeouts in the inning.
 He went to two outs of the 9th inning and today,
 he became the winning pitcher]


[Results on April 26]

At Koshien

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

	WP: Takeuchi	(1W 1L)
	Sv: Tamura	(2S)
	LP: Yoshii	(3W 1L)
	HR: T Hiyama 3, Hiatt 6

[The Tigers won with homeruns of Hiyama and Hiatt.
 In the top of the 6th, Dobashi singled to left field
 with runners on first and second after the Swallows
 scored 2 runs.  But the Tiger fielders threw Kobayakawa
 out at the plate]


At Yokohama

Dragons    | 0 0 0   1 2 0   0 0 1 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 1 0   1 1 0   0 0 0 | 3

	WP: Ochiai	(2W 1L)
	Sv: Sun	(7S)
	LP: Shimada	(2L)
	HR: D Gomez 5
	    YB Shindoh 3

[In the top of the 9th, the Dragons got a game-winning
 run with a triple of Higuchi and a single of Masuda.
 In the bottom of the 9th inning, Sun appeared to get
 his 7th save]


At Tokyo Dome

Carp       | 1 2 0   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 1   1 1 0   0 0 0 | 3

	WP: Sawazaki	(3W)
	Sv: Sasaoka	(3S)
	LP: Okajima	(2L)
	HR: G Nishi 3, Nishi 4

[The starter of the Carp was rookie Sawazaki.
 He went to the 6th inning to get his third win.
 Okajima started for the Giants, but he was not
 very good]


At Fukuoka Dome

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

	WP: Komiyama	(2W 2L)
	Sv: Kawamoto	(1W 5S)
	LP: Sakumoto	(3L 1S)
	HR: M Ohmura 2

[Komiyama went to the end of the 9th to win
 since the opening day.  In the top of the
 10th, the Marines got a game-winning run
 with an error of Yoshinaga]


At Osaka Dome

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

	WP: Takahashi, K.	(1W)
	Sv: Kobayashi	(1W 3S)
	LP: Kohda	(2W 1L)
	Hd: BW Nomura
	HR: BW Neel 5, Donnels 1
	    Bu 

[In the bottom of the 9th, the Buffaloes made comeback.
 Mizuguchi doulbed with two men on, one by walk and
 the other by an error, and Rhodes singled to drive
 Mizuguchi in.  Then Kobayashi relieved Nomura and
 he got Nakamura a flied out]


At Seibu

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

	WP: Sekine	(2W 1L)
	Sv: Yamahara	(1S)
	LP: Nishiguchi	(2W 2L)
	Hd: F Shimazaki Takahashi,N.
	HR: F Brooks 3, Wilson 6

[The Lions made comeback in late innings:  They
 scored 2 runs with two basehits and they had
 chance of runners on second and third in the 9th
 inning.  But Kanmeura grounded into double play
 after Matsui walked intentionally.  Now the Fighters
 has won 6 games in a row]


[Results on April 27]

At Koshien

Swallows   | 0 0 2   0 1 0   0 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Tigers     | 0 3 1   0 0 0   0 0 X | 4

	WP: Kasai	(3W 1L)
	LP: Yamamoto	(1W 2L)

[The Tigers went 2-1 against the Swallows in this series.
 Kasai, who pitched for the last three innings, was very
 good.  Now Wada has tied with the record consecutive-game
 hitting streak in 20 games from the beginning of a season.
 Although the Japanese record of the consecutive-game hitting
 streak by Takahashi Yoshihiko is in 33 games, 23 games less
 than that of DiMaggio :-)]


At Yokohama

Dragons    | 0 0 0   0 1 7   0 1 1 |10
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 0 0 1   0 0 1   0 0 0 | 2

	WP: Idemoto	(1W 1L)
	LP: Nomura	(1W 3L)
	HR: D Taihoh 2, Torigoe 1, Nakamura 3
	    YB Suzuki,T. 3, Shindoh 4

[Dragon hitters got 7 runs with 5 hits in the 6th.
 Nomura gave up a 3-run shot for Torigoe after he
 got two outs in the 6th]


At Tokyo Dome

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

	WP: Kida	(1W 4L)
	LP: Sasaoka	(1L 3S)
	HR: G Kiyohara 3, Matsui 9

[Kuwata allowed 4 runs in 5 innings.  It is true that
 an error of Kiyohara made the Carp some runs, but
 he got a 2-run shot in the 3rd inning.  Matsui also
 got a 2-run homer to tie the game.  In the bottom of
 the 9th, Sasaoka gave an intentional walk for Matsui
 when runner was on third with one out, but he didn't
 walk Kiyohara.  Kiyohara grounded to right-hand side
 of third baseman and the batted ball went through to
 left field.
    Matsui's homer was his career 100th one]


At Fukuoka Dome

Marines    | 0 0 1   0 0 0   2 0 0 | 3
-----------+-----------------------+--
Hawks      | 4 0 1   0 5 0   0 1 X |11

	WP: Wakatabe	(2W 1L)
	LP: Sonokawa	(1L)
	HR: H Kokubo 7, Yoshinaga 4, Pirkl 2

[In the 5th, the Hawks got 3 homers, two of which was
 back-to-back homers by Kokubo and Yoshinaga.  Wakatabe
 pitched a complete game]


At Osaka Dome

BlueWave   | 3 0 3   2 0 0   0 0 0 | 8
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 1   0 0 0   0 1 0 | 2

	WP: Itoh	(2W 1L)
	LP: Teramae	(3L)
	HR: Bu Yamamoto 4

[Donnels is still very good.  He drove 4 runs in today.  He hit
 fifth in batting order now.  That's why Ichiro and Neel, who hit
 third and 4th respectively, scored 3 runs for each]


At Seibu

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

	WP: Nagatomi	(1W)
	Sv: Yamahara	(2S)
	LP: Takeshita	(1W 1L)

[The Lions tied the game with a bloop hit of Matsui in the
 5th inning.  But in the top of the 6th, Martinez dropped
 an easy fly to allow third runner to score.  Yamahara of
 the Fighters appeared in the last inning.  He seemed good]


[Results on April 29]

At Tokyo Dome

Tigers     | 1 0 0   0 1 4   0 0 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 0 0   0 0 3   0 1 0 | 4

	WP: Yufune	(3W 1L)
	Sv: Tamura	(3S)
	LP: Galvez	(1W 3L)
	HR: T Hiatt 7
	    G Matsui 10

[Wada doubled in the first inning, and now he made
 new Japanese record of consecutive-game hitting
 streak from the beginning of a season.  The Tiger
 hitters sent Galvez to the dugout in the 6th, but
 the Giants came back in late innings with a 2-run
 shot of Matsui and so on]


At Yokohama

Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 1 0   0 0 1 | 2
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 2 0 5   0 1 1   1 1 X |11

	WP: Kawamura	(2W 1L)
	LP: Bross	(2W 2L)
	HR: S Hosey 6
	    YB Rose 7, Suzuki,T. 4, Tanishige 4, Tanishige 5

[Rose hit for cylcle and has become the third player
 who ever hit for cycle twice or more.  FYI, the other
 two players are Fujimura Fumio and Matsunaga Hiromi.
 Bross was again too bad]


At Nagoya Dome

Carp       | 0 1 1   0 0 0   0 4 0   0 0 0   0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------------------+--
Dragons    | 1 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 5   0 0 0   3 | 9

	WP: Daitoh	(1W 1L)
	LP: Perdomo	(1W 1L)
	HR: C Machida 2, Shohda 1
	    D Gomez 6, Powell 3

[The Dragons made great comeback in the 9th and
 Powell got a game-ending three-run homer in the 13th
 inning.  Perdomo appeared in the bottom of the 9th,
 but he allowed Powell to hit a 2-run infield single
 in the 9th and a game-ending homer in the 13th]


At Chiba

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

	WP: Kawamoto	(2W 5S)
	LP: Shimazaki	(1W 1L 1S)
	HR: M Thompson 1, Hori 2

[The Marines stopped the Fighters.  Hatsushiba singled
 to drive two runs in in the 6th inning, and Hori got
 a game-winning homerun in the 7th inning]


At Kobe

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

	WP: Takeda	(2W)
	LP: Hoshino	(1W 1L)
	HR: H Akiyama 2, Yanagita 1, Kokubo 8

[Takeda pitched a shutout game, allowing only two singles.
 Kase appeared in the top of the 9th and he got Kokubo
 strikeout]


At Fujiidera

Lions      | 0 3 0   0 0 1   0 2 0 | 6
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 4 1 2   0 0 0   0 3 X |10

	WP: Koike	(2W 1L)
	Sv: Akahori	(5S)
	LP: Shiozaki	(1W 2L)
	Hd: Bu Nishikawa
	HR: L Itoh 2, Martinez 5

[In late innings, the Lions made comeback but
 the Buffaloes managed to win.  Shiozaki and
 Takeshita, the first two Lion pitchers, were
 too bad]


[Results on April 30]

At Tokyo Dome

Tigers     | 1 1 0   0 0 0   1 0 1 | 4
-----------+-----------------------+--
Giants     | 0 2 0   0 0 0   0 0 1 | 3

	WP: Kawajiri	(1W 3L)
	Sv: Kasai	(3W 1L 1S)
	LP: Misawa	(1L)

[Hiratsuka got a game-winning hit off Kida in the 7th.
 In the 9th, Kuji and Shinjyo got back-to-back doubles
 to get another run.  Misawa of the Giants appeared the
 game in the 3rd with bases loaded and one out.  He pitched
 well, but he became a losing pitcher]


At Yokohama

Swallows   | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0
-----------+-----------------------+--
BayStars   | 4 0 0   0 1 0   1 2 X | 8

	WP: Sekiguchi	(1W)
	Sv: Shimada	(2L 1S)
	LP: Kawasaki	(1W 1L)
	HR: YB Tanishige 6, Suzuki,T. 5, Rose 8

[The Bay Stars blew out the Swallows.  In the first inning,
 they scored 4 runs with 4 hits, one walk, an error of
 Dobashi and a wild pitch of Kawasaki.  Rose of the Bay Stars
 went 4 for 4 and got one intentional walk, so he is in hitting
 streak in 9 act bats (yesterday he hit for cycle and went 5 for 5).
 He also in the streak of reaching first in 10 plate appearences]


At Nagoya Dome

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

	WP: Ohno	(3W)
	LP: Ochiai	(2W 2L)
	HR: C Lopez 5

[Ohno of the Carp has become the eldest pitcher who
 pitched a shutout game in the history of the Central League.
 He didn't allow any hits until the end of the 6th, but
 Tatsunami spoiled his no-hitter.  The Dragons put eight
 right-handed hitters in batting order against Ohno, but
 the line-up was not effective]


At Osaka Dome

Lions      | 1 3 1   3 0 3   0 0 0 |11
-----------+-----------------------+--
Buffaloes  | 0 0 0   0 0 0   0 0 0 | 0

	WP: Givens	(3W 1L)
	LP: Takamura	(1W 2L)
	HR: L Suzuki,K. 1

[Givens pitched a shutout game.  Suzuki hit his first
 homerun in the last day of April.  Now the game behind
 from the top throught the bottom in PL is only 1.0.
 The Blue Wave and the Marines, whose games was rained out,
 now lead the league]