Chunichi Dragons

The Dragons held the Yakult Swallows to just two hits on Saturday and lost the game.  Chunichi had not lost a game in which they held the opposition to two or fewer hits since the first game of a double-header on April 20, 1969.  Source: Sponichi 8/26/2012

Yakult Swallows

Shinya Miyamoto played in his first Ni-gun rehab game on Saturday (vs Nippon Ham) -- he started at third, batted sixth, and went 0-for-3: ground out to the pitcher, line out to short, strikeout; he was replaced on defense in the 6th.  If everything goes well, he could return to the active roster as early as August 28.  Source: Nikkan Sports 8/25/2012, Sanspo 8/26/2012

===

The Swallows have two complete game 1-0 victories this month: Orlando Roman vs Yokohama on August 9 and Shohei Tateyama vs Chunichi on August 25.  The last time they managed the same feat with one pitcher: Takao Obana collected two in 1998 (August 4 vs Hanshin and 8 vs Hiroshima); and with two pitchers: Hiromu Matsuoka on July 4, 1973 vs Taiyo and Takeshi Yasuda on July 8, 1973 vs Hanshin.  Source: Sponichi 8/26/2012

Yomiuri Giants

The Giants are 0-3-6 in extra inning games.  Together with the Hiroshima Carp (0-3-7), they are the only remaining teams in the NPB without a victory in extra innings.

===

Toshiya Sugiuchi worked out at Giants Stadium on Saturday.  Still no throwing.  Source: Nikkan Sports 8/25/2012

Hanshin Tigers

The Tigers loss on Saturday means the team will finish under .500 for the fourth straight month.

===

Hiroaki Saiuchi may have pitched well enough against the Ni-gun Softbank Hawks on Saturday (6 IP, 113 NP, 28 BF, 8 H, 1 HR, 4 SO, 4 BB, 3 R, 3 ER) for a chance to start an Ichi-gun game on September 1 (vs Hiroshima at Koshien).  Source: Nikkan Sports 8/26/2012

Other possibilities include Akira Iwamoto and Naoto Tsuru.  Source: Daily Sports 8/26/2012

===

Matt Murton also played in Saturday's Ni-gun game against Softbank -- started in right, batted third, and went 1-for-4: ground out to third, fly out to right, fly out to right, RBI single to center.  He was replaced by a pinch-hitter after his single in the 9th.  Source: Sanspo 8/26/2012

===

The Tigers strongly appear to be learning towards keeping Tomoaki Kanemoto (reason: veteran presence and good role model for younger players) and remaining with Yutaka Wada (reason: signed a multi-year deal and things probably can not get much worse).  Source: Sanspo 8/26/2012