5/23/2012: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Ichiro Suzuki, Norichika Aoki
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 3:52 pm, under MLB
Games from May 22:
Texas Rangers 3 - Seattle Mariners 1
Ichiro Suzuki (SEA) started in right and batted third. He went 2-for-4: single to right, fly out to left, ground out to second (force), single to center. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Minnesota Twins 9 - Chicago White Sox 2
Kosuke Fukudome (CWS) entered the game as a defensive replacement in right in the top of the 8th. He did get one at bat in the bottom of the 9th: he grounded out to the pitcher. [Nikkan Sports]
San Francisco Giants 6 - Milwaukee Brewers 4
Norichika Aoki (MIL) started in right and batted first. He went 2-for-4: triple to right, strikeout swinging, ground out to third, RBI double to right (run scored), walk. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Charlotte 5 - Durham 2 (AAA)
Hideki Matsui (DUR) was the starting DH and batted fourth. He went 0-for-4: ground out to first, fly out to center, fly out to right, strikeout swinging. [Sponichi, Nikkan Sports, Daily Sports]
Pawtucket 5 - Norfolk 3 (AAA)
Junichi Tazawa (PAW) entered the game in the bottom of the 6th and gave up a run (unearned) over two innings of work. He got the win and is now 1-1 on the year. Tazawa also recorded his second blown save of the year. Final line: 2 IP, 28-20 NP-S, 9 BF, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 0 HR. [Nikkan Sports, Sponichi]
Gwinnett 3 - Rochester 1 (AAA)
Tsuyoshi Nishioka (ROC) started at second and batted eighth. He went 0-for-2: pop out to the catcher in foul territory, walk, ground out to short. [Nikkan Sports]
===
The latest on Daisuke Matsuzaka (BOS), from CBSSports.com:
Matsuzaka shifted to 60-day DL: Boston starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Tuesday as he continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. Matsuzaka was recently shut down from his minor-league rehab assignment after developing pain in his neck that restricted his movement when he pitched. He reportedly had a cortisone injection on Sunday. Matsuzaka's move cleared an additional spot on the 40-man roster.
===
Yu Darvish's (TEX) next start will come against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 27.
Softbank Hawks: Alex Cabrera to return to Venezuela to care for mother
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 1:46 pm, under NPB
The media learned on Tuesday that Alex Cabrera will be returning to Venezuela to in order to take care of his sick mother. He is expected to be return to Japan some time early next month.
Cabrera has been working his way back from a right calf injury. Whether he will be able to return before Inter-league play is unknown.
UPDATE @ 2:52pm - Cabrera is currently scheduled to return to Japan on May 29.
Tokyo Yakult Swallows 1 – Chiba Lotte Marines 5 (May 23, 2012)
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 4:05 am, under Game Summaries, NPB
Tokyo Yakult Swallows vs Chiba Lotte Marines @ QVC Marine Field - 18:15
Announced Starters: Katsuki Akagawa (YAK) 3-2, 2.65 - Seth Greisinger (LOT) 4-1, 1.69
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Yakult | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Lotte | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | X | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Attendance: 17150 | Lotte leads series, 1-0-0 | Time: 2:49
Hiroshima Toyo Carp 3 – Fukuoka Softbank Hawks 6 (May 23, 2012)
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 4:04 am, under Game Summaries, NPB
Hiroshima Toyo Carp vs Fukuoka Softbank Hawks @ Yahoo Dome - 18:00
Announced Starters: Yuki Saito (HIR) 1-1, 2.25 - Nagisa Arakaki (SOF) 3-1, 4.91
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Hiroshima | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Softbank | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 7 | 1 |
Attendance: 36658 | Softbank leads series, 2-0-0 | Time: 2:51
Hanshin Tigers 8 – Orix Buffaloes 2 (May 23, 2012)
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 4:03 am, under Game Summaries, NPB
Hanshin Tigers vs Orix Buffaloes @ Kyocera Dome - 18:00
Announced Starters: Minoru Iwata (HAN) 2-5, 3.61 - Shinya Nakayama (ORI) 1-2, 3.95
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Hanshin | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 0 |
| Orix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Attendance: 29991 | Series tied, 1-1-0 | Time: 3:54
Yomiuri Giants 2 – Saitama Seibu Lions 0 (May 23, 2012)
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 4:02 am, under Game Summaries, NPB
Yomiuri Giants vs Saitama Seibu Lions @ Seibu Dome - 18:00
Announced Starters: Toshiya Sugiuchi (YOM) 5-1, 1.41 - Takayuki Kishi (SEI) 4-3, 1.75
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Yomiuri | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Seibu | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Attendance: 27868 | Yomiuri leads series, 2-0-0 | Time: 2:37
Chunichi Dragons 0 – Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 4 (May 23, 2012)
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 4:01 am, under Game Summaries, NPB
Chunichi Dragons vs Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles @ Kleenex Stadium - 18:00
Announced Starters: Kenichi Nakata (CHU) 3-2, 2.02 - Wataru Karashima (RAK) 1-1, 1.23
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Chunichi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| Rakuten | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 4 | 9 | 0 |
Attendance: 14240 | Rakuten leads series, 1-0-0 | Time: 3:09
Yokohama Bay Stars 1 – Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 3 (May 23, 2012)
by Gen on May.23, 2012 @ 4:00 am, under Game Summaries, NPB
Yokohama Bay Stars vs Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters @ Sapporo Dome - 18:00
Announced Starters: Giancarlo Alvarado (YOK) 1-4, 2.83 - Mitsuo Yoshikawa (HAM) 4-2, 1.12
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Yokohama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| Nippon Ham | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Attendance: 28401 | Nippon Ham leads series, 2-0-0 | Time: 3:14
Chunichi, Yomiuri: May 22, 2012
by Gen on May.22, 2012 @ 11:58 pm, under NPB
Chunichi Dragons
Ryosuke Hirata was examined at a hospital in Nagoya today and diagnosed with a minor lower back strain.
===
Maximo Nelson will be sent down to Ni-gun for more work. Nelson started tonight's game against the Rakuten Eagles, but the game was called after the top of the 2nd inning.
Yomiuri Giants
Tetsuya Yamaguchi extended his scoreless appearances to twenty games tonight. That's from his very first appearance of the year.
Seibu, Orix, Lotte: May 22, 2012
by Gen on May.22, 2012 @ 11:56 pm, under NPB
Seibu Lions
Hideaki Wakui was taken off the active roster today in order to give him some time to think about his actions (woman troubles reported in tabloid).
Orix Buffaloes
Takahiro Okada will be taken off the active roster on Wednesday because his left hamstring has not shown much improvement since returning to the active roster on May 16.
===
Takayoshi Kawabata became the first rookie in franchise history to hit a grand slam for his first Ichi-gun homer since Tetsuya Yoneda on April 11, 1956.
Chiba Lotte Marines
Takahiro Fujioka's start against the Yakult Swallows was rained out tonight. He is now scheduled to start Thursday's make-up game.
Fujioka threw about forty pitches in the bullpen in preparation for his start on Thursday.

