===

The Fighters closed out Ni-gun camp in Kunigami today.

Takumi Oshima was in charge of the ceremonial closing clap.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013

===

Masaru Takeda is scheduled to start Saturday's exhibition game against Hanshin.

Source: Sanspo 2/22/2013

===

Part of the reason why 1st round draft pick Shohei Otani reported to Ichi-gun camp was because Hideki Kuriyama wanted to let the youngster work out in the warmer weather.

"[Otani] was not really promoted.  I just thought it might be better for him to work out in the warm weather," said Kuriyama.  "We will see how he does.  If he is good, then we might let him play and see if we can spot things he needs to work on."

Otani's schedule, after spring camp ends: high school graduation on March 2; NPB rookie seminar on March 4; team rally on March 5; rookie intro ceremony before exhibition game against Yomiuri on March 6.

Source: Sponichi 2/22/2013

Otani suffered a little cut on his right ring finger while tossing batting practice on Thursday (the fingernail on his right thumb caused the cut).  Something similar also apparently happened to Yu Darvish.

Source: Sponichi 2/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013

Kuriyama told the reporters on Thursday he wanted them to take a step back and give Otani some breathing room.

"Otani will be coming up to Ichi-gun tomorrow.  He has been doing two things so his fatigue building up.  Forceful interviews will not allowed.  We will set something up so you can speak to him.  Please do not put place any strain on him.  If you can not follow the rules, I will ban interviews.  That might seem extreme, but please understand," said Kuriyama.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013

Otani was assigned the hotel room Sho Nakata used before he left for the WBC.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/22/2013

===

Haruki Nishikawa took extra fielding practice before general workouts today -- he only made catches and did not throw the ball because of the inflammation in his right shoulder.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013

===

Yuki Saito could join the Ichi-gun team on Friday.  On Wednesday, he threw over 100 baseballs at about fifty percent into a net off the bullpen mound.  He also had Eiichi Koyano stand in the batter's box part way through to check on his pitches.

Koyano is expected to join the Ichi-gun team on Friday.

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2013

===

Dustin Molleken will be with the team until the 28th.  He will then meet up with WBC Canada in Arizona.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013

===

The coaches feel good enough about 1st round draft pick Shohei Otani's hitting abilities that they will most likely have him report to Ichi-gun camp on Friday.  Ni-gun training coach Seiichiro Nakagaki is expected to continue supporting Otani at Ichi-gun camp.

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2013

The Fighters announced today that Otani will indeed be called up to Ichi-gun camp on Friday.

Eiichi Koyano and 3rd round draft pick Yohei Kagiya will also join Ichi-gun camp on Friday.  Yuki Saito will head to Ichi-gun camp on Saturday.

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2013

===

Haruki Nishikawa had his right shoulder examined at a hospital in Itoman, Okinawa today and was diagnosed with inflammation.  He received a shot as part of his treatment and returned to the team hotel for rest.  He is considered day-to-day.

Nishikawa may have hurt his shoulder while trying to make a play on defense during an Ni-gun intra-squad game on the 17th.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013

===

Toshiharu Moriuchi is slated to pitch in a practice game against Nexxen (KBO) on Thursday.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/20/2013

===

Mitsuo Yoshikawa is scheduled to start a practice game against Hiroshima at Nago on the 26th.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013

===

1st round draft pick Shohei Otani had a fairly busy day on Tuesday: he tossed fifty-two pitches in the bullpen, took indoor batting practice against a pitching machine, did some base-running exercises and trunk strengthening exercises, and took about an hour of fielding practice in right.

Source: Sponichi 2/20/2013, Gendai 2/20/2013

The coaches have apparently decided to give Otani a try in the outfield instead of at short.  He could also join Ichi-gun camp after Ni-gun camp end on the 22nd.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013

Otani is slated to toss batting practice to Takumi Oshima, Go Matsumoto, and Shingo Ishikawa on Thursday.

Source: Daily Sports 2/20/2013

========== Practice Games ==========

Nippon Ham Fighters 2 - Yakult Swallows 2

Nippon Ham

• Hiroshi Kisanuki started he game and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk over three innings of work.  Both runs scored after Kisanuki recorded two outs in the third inning.  He topped out at 144km/h.
• Dustin Molleken tossed a shutout inning in relief.  He hit 150+km/h on consecutive pitches.
• Yuya Taniguchi started in right and batted third.  He went 0-for-4 with an RBI.
• Michel Abreu was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 2-for-4.  He also played some first.

Yakult

• The offense recorded seven hits.
• Masanori Ishikawa started he game and did not allow any runs or hits over two innings of work.  He hit one batter.
• Orlando Roman relieved Ishikawa and gave up a run on two hits and one HBP over two innings of work.
• Tony Barnette tossed a perfect seventh.
• Kenichi Matsuoka pitched the last two innings and gave up a run on two hits and a walk.  He struck out one.
• Yuhei started in center and batted lead-off.  He went 2-for-4.
• Akinori Iwamura started at third and batted third.  He went 3-for-3 with a double.
• With runners on first and second and two out in the 3rd inning, Wladimir Balentien hit an RBI single to left off Hiroshi Kisanuki.

Source: official report (Nippon Ham), official report (Yakult), NIkkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Sanspo 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013

===

Hanshin Tigers 4 - Yomiuri Giants 2

Hanshin

• Tatsuya Kojima started the game and allowed a run over four innings of work.  With runners on first and second and one out in the 1st inning, he gave up an RBI single to Jose Lopez.
• Kazuo Ito tossed two shutout inning.
• Kazuya Takamiya and Masanori Fujihara each tossed an inning and did not allow any runs.
• Yamato started in center and batted second.  He hit an RBI single to left in the 2nd inning and a single to left in the 6th inning.
• Matt Murton started in left and batted fifth.  He went 1-for-2.  He was removed after four innings.
• Brooks Conrad was the starting DH and batted sixth.  He went 1-for-1 with two walks.
• Masashi Nohara started at third and batted seventh.  He went 2-for-4: RBI double to left in the 2nd and a single to right in the 3rd.

Yomiuri

• Ryuya Matsumoto started the game and gave up three runs on five hits and four walks.
• Fuminori Yokogawa hit a single to right in the 6th inning and a single to right in the 8th inning.

Source: Sponichi 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Sanspo 2/20/2013, Daily Sports 2/20/2013, Daily Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sanspo 2/21/2013, Sanspo 2/21/2013, Daily Sports 2/21/2013, Daily Sports 2/21/2013

===

LG (KBO) 1 - Yokohama Bay Stars 9

• Kai-Wen Cheng started the game and tossed two shutout innings while allowing two hits (including one infield hit).
• Yoshitomo Tsutsugo started at third and batted clean-up.  He went 3-for-4 with three RBI.  He was a home run away from the cycle.  He hit a single to right in his second at bat, an RBI triple to center in his third at bat, and a two-run double to left in his fourth at bat.
• Masayuki Kuwahara also drove in three runs.

Source: Sponichi 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Daily Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sports Hochi 2/21/2013

===

SK (KBO) vs Chunichi Dragons

• Cancelled

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013

===

KIA (KBO) 3 - Rakuten Eagles 5

• Rakuten pitchers walked seven hitters.
• Yoshinao Kamata started the game and allowed one run on four hits over three innings of work.  He threw fifty pitches and struck out five.  With runners on first and second and two out in the 3rd inning, he gave up a bloop RBI single to left.  He topped out at 140km/h.
• Satoshi Nagai relieved Kamata and gave up two runs on two hits over three innings of work.  He threw forty-eight pitches and struck out three.  He issued a two-out walk in the 6th inning and then surrendered a home run.
• Darrell Rasner tossed a shutout inning in relief.
• Yusuke Kosai started at first and batted third.  He went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.  With a runner on third and two out in the 3rd, he hit a home run to right.
• Andruw Jones was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 0-for-2: strikeout, strikeout, walk.
• Casey McGehee started at third and batted sixth.  He went 0-for-2: ground out to short, double play

Source: official announcement, Sponichi 2/20/2013, Sports Hochi 2/20/2013, Sports Hochi 2/20/2013, Nikkkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Sports Hochi 2/21/2013

===

Goyang (KBFL) - Hanshin Tigers (Ni-gun)

• 2nd round draft pick Fumiya Hojo started at short and batted sixth.  He went 0-for-4.

Source: Sanspo 2/21/2013

========== Intra-squad Games ==========

Orix Buffaloes

• Whites beat the Reds, 4-1.
• 1st round draft pick Takahiro Matsuba pitched an inning and gave up three runs on two hits.  He served up a home run to Aarom Baldiris to lead off the 6th inning, and then two outs later, with a runner on second, surrendered his second long ball of the inning to Masato Fukae.
• Mike Schultz (tryout) tossed a perfect inning in relief.
• Ikusei 2nd round draft pick Hiroki Nishikawa collected two hits and stole two bases.  He hit a single through the left side in his first at bat in the 2nd inning and stole second.  He tried to steal third and was thrown out.  He hit a single to right in the 5th and stole second.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Sponichi 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sports Hochi 2/21/2013

===

Softbank Hawks

• Reds blanked the Whites, 3-0.
• Ryota Igarashi tossed a shutout inning in relief and recorded two strikeouts.  He topped out at 142km/h.
• Bryan LaHair collected two hits: single to center in his first at bat, single to left in his second at bat.
• Yuki Yanagita started in center and batted fifth for the Whites.  He hit a double to right off Shintaro Ejiri in his second trip to the plate.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Sponichi 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Sponichi 2/20/2013, Sponichi 2/21/2013

===

Hideki Kuriyama is waiting for younger players to step up (particularly at second and right), but none have so far.  At least not to a point where he feels there is a clear cut winner.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

===

Yusuke Uemura was called up; Keisaku Itokazu, Tomohisa Nemoto, and Yodai Enoshita were sent down.

Source: Sponichi 2/19/2013

===

1st round draft pick Shohei Otani is scheduled to toss batting practice on the 21st.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

Otani could make his debut as a pitcher and hitter during an exhibition game against Yomiuri at Sapporo Dome on March 6.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/19/2013

Ichi-gun and Ni-gun camp had the day off today.

===

Yusuke Uemura has been promoted and will join Ichi-gun camp on Tuesday.

Source: Sanspo 2/18/2013

===

Eiichi Koyano (returning from right elbow surgery in November 2012) was the starting DH in Sunday's intra-squad game.  He flied out to second in his one at bat (first pitch).

Koyano will likely rejoin the Ichi-gun group when the Ni-gun camp in Kunigami, Okinawa ends on the 22nd.  He took fielding practice at first during pre-game workouts on Sunday.  Assuming no setbacks, he could begin practicing at third some time around mid-March.  It is feasible that he will be ready for the start of opening day.

Source: Sponichi 2/18/2013

===

Hideki Kuriyama was please with 1st round draft pick Shohei Otani's performance on Sunday (2-for-4) but tempered his reaction to the media.

"Nothing special.  I have seen [Otani] when he is on and the pitch he hit [in his second at bat] would have hit the fence.  I think he is capable of much more," said Kuriyama.

He also said, "No players will be promoted this time around."

Source: Sponichi 2/18/2013

Otani worked out for about ninety minutes on his day off today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013

Otani is scheduled to throw fifty pitches in the bullpen on Tuesday.  He will take batting practice on Wednesday.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/18/2013

===

Bobby Keppel told reporters on Saturday that he did not think there was any reason to rush himself to make the start of the regular season.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013

========== Practice Games ==========

Yokohama Bay Stars 3 - Yakult Swallows 5

Yokohama

• Yuki Kuniyoshi started the game and gave up three runs on four hits over two innings of work.
• Kenji Tsuchiya tossed two shutout innings in relief while allowing one hit.
• Yoshitomo Tsutsugo started at third and batted fourth.  He went 2-for-3.  He hit a two-out three-run double in the 3rd inning.
• Nyjer Morgan reached base three times on two infield hits and an HBP.

Yakult

• The offense scored five runs on ten hits.
• Masato Nakazawa started the game.  He tossed two shutout innings before giving up three runs in his third inning of work.  He surrendered three hits, walked/hit two, and struck out one.
• Ryosuke Yagi relieved Nakazawa and tossed two shutout innings while allow two hits.  He also struck out one and walked two.
• Ryo Hirai did not allow a run over two innings of work.  He gave up two hits, topped out at 148km/h, and struck out two.
• Yuhei started in right and batted sixth.  He went 3-for-3: single to left in the 2nd, two-run home run in the 3rd, double to left-center in the 5th inning, walk.  He was a triple short of the cycle.  He also stole one base.
• 6th round draft pick Ryota Yachi started at short and batted eighth.  He went 2-for-3: single to left in the 3rd inning and a single to right in the 5th.

Source: official report (Yakult), Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/18/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013

===

Rakuten Eagles 11 - Hanshin Tigers 1

Rakuten

• Yasunori Kikuchi started the game and gave up one run over three innings of work.
• Wataru Karashima relieved Kikuchi and tossed three shutout innings while allowing two hits.
• Hiroyuki Fukuyama tossed a shutout inning in relief.  He faced four batters (he gave up a two-out double) and needed just nine pitches to get out of the inning.
• Andruw Jones was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He led off the 2nd inning with a single over Tsuyoshi Nishioka's head.
• Casey McGehee started at third and batted sixth.  With runners on first and second and no out in the 2nd, he hit a game-tying RBI double to right of Takumi Akiyama.
• Tetsuro Nishida started at short and batted seventh.  He went 3-for-3 with one walk and two RBI: sac fly to right, double to right, single to left, RBI single to right, walk.

Hanshin

• The offense scored one run on six hits.
• Takumi Akiyama started the game and gave up two runs on three hits over three innings of work.  He topped out at 142km/h.
• Akira Iwamoto relieved Akiyama and tossed three shutout innings while allowing two hits.  He also struck out two, including Andruw Jones looking.  He topped out at 140km/h.
• Kazuya Takamiya entered the game in the 7th and gave up three runs over an inning of work.  He faced nine batters and gave up three hits and two walks.  He also threw two wild pitches.
• 3rd round draft pick Kojiro Tanabo entered the game in the 8th and gave up four runs on three hits over 0.2 innings of work.
• Masanori Fujihara gave up two runs over 1.1 innings of work.  He faced seven batters and allowed two hits and two walks.  He also threw one wild pitch.
• Tsuyoshi Nishoka started at second and batted third.  He went 0-for-2.
• Ryota Arai started at first and batted clean-up.  He went 2-for-4: two-out RBI single to center in the 1st inning and single to right in the 6th inning.

Source: official report (Rakuten), Sports Hochi 2/17/2013, Sports Hochi 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Sports Hochi 2/18/2013, Sports Hochi 2/18/2013, Sansp 2/18/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013

===

Doosan (KBO) 2 - Seibu Lions 4

• Ken Togame started the game and did not allow a run over three innings of work.  He gave up one hit, topped out at 144km/h, and struck out seven, including six in a row between the 1st and 3rd innings.
• Yosuke Okamoto tossed three shutout innings in relief.  He allowed one hit.
• Shingo Takeyama led off the 5th inning with a home run to left.
• Ryan Spilborghs hit an RBI double.
• Shogo Akiyama collected a tie-breaking, pinch-hit two-run triple in the 8th.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013

===

KIA (KBO) 4 - Chunichi Dragons 5

• Shinji Iwata started the game and gave up a run on four hits over three innings of work.  He also walked/hit three.
• Akifumi Takahashi tossed a shutout inning in relief.  He allowed one hit, walked one, and threw a wild pitch.
• Shuhei Takahashi went 1-for-3 with a walk.
• Yusuke Matsui started in left and batted fifth.  He went 2-for-4 with two RBI.  With runners on second and third and no out in the 5th, he cleared the bases with a double to left.

Source: official report, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/18/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013

===

Ni-gun: Seibu Lions 1 - Hanshin Tigers 6

Hanshin

• Daiki Kiyohara started the game and did not allow a run over three innings of work.  He threw thirty-four pitches and gave up one hit.
• 2nd round draft pick Fumiya Hojo started at short and batted seventh.  He went 1-for-4 with an RBI.  With runners on first and second and one out in the 8th, he hit an RBI single to single to center.

Source: Daily Sports 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013

===

Sega Sammy (Industrial League) 7 - Ni-gun Yakult Swallows 2

•  The pitching staff allowed seven runs on fourteen hits.
• Masato Furuno started the game and gave up three runs on five hits and one walk over two innings of work.  He also struck out one.
• Ryohei Kiya relieved Furuno and tossed two shutout innings while allowing two hits.  He also struck out five.
• Takanori Sato started in center and batted third.  He went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.

Source: official report

========== Intra-squad Games ==========

Chiba Lotte Marines

• Whites beat the Reds, 3-2.  Seven innings.
• Yoshihisa Naruse (Reds) and Takahiro Fujioka (Whites) were both starters and did not allow a hit or a run over two innings of work.
• 1st round draft pick Takahiro Matsunaga entered the game in the 5th inning and struck out the side on fifteen pitches.  He topped out at 143km/h.
• 4th round draft pick Shohei Kato started in left and batted second.  He went 2-for-3 with three stolen bases.
• Naoya Emura hit a walk-off single through the left-side in the bottom of the 7th.

Source: official report, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013

===

Softbank Hawks

• Whites blanked the Reds, 6-0.  Eight innings.
• Whites scored six runs on seventeen hits.  All players in the starting line-up had at least one hit.
• Brian Falkenborg started the game for the Whites and tossed a shutout inning.  He allowed one hit and topped out at 145km/h.
• Sho Iwasaki started for the Reds and also tossed a shutout inning.
• 1st round draft pick Nao Higashihama entered the game in the 6th for the Reds and tossed a shutout inning.  He faced five batters, allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out one.  Higashihama retired the first two batters in order before allowing a single to center to 3rd round draft pick Tomoki Takata and walking Yuya Hasegawa.  He ended the inning by getting Bryan LaHair to ground out to second.
• 6th round draft pick Hirofumi Yamanaka did not allow a run or hit over two innings of work for the Whites.
• 3rd round draft pick Tomoki Takata started at short and batted second for the Whites.  He went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base.  He hit a double off Brian Falkenborg in the 1st, an RBI single to center off Yoshiaki Fujioka in the 3rd, and a single to center off Nao Higashihama in the 6th.
• Hidenori Tanoue and Atsushi Fukumoto played for the Whites and collected three hits.
• Kyohei Kamezawa went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Source: official report, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013

===

Nippon Ham Fighters

• Game ended in a tie, 8-8.
• 3rd round draft pick Yohei Kagiya entered the game in the 3rd inning for the Whites and tossed two shutout innings while allowing one hit.  He topped out at 146km/h.  Of the ten pitchers that appeared in the game (both sides), he was the only one that did not allow any runs.
• 1st round draft pick Shohei Otani entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Eiichi Koyano (Whites) in the 4th inning and hit a single through the left side off Keisuke Tanimoto.  He also ran from first to third on a single to right by Micah Hoffpauir.  After that: double to right in the 5th off Masaru Saito; strikeout looking in the 7th; and strikeout swinging in the 9th.
• Eiichi Koyano was the starting DH and batted third for the Whites.  He flied out to second in his lone at bat.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Sports Hochi 2/18/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013

===

Masaru Takeda is scheduled to pitch in an exhibition game against Hanshin on the 23rd.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013

===

1st round draft pick Shohei Otani is slated to play in Sunday's intra-squad game (as a DH).

Source: Sports Hochi 2/16/2013

Ni-gun battery coach Yoichi Fukuzawa caught the first ten pitches of Otani's bullpen session on Friday before letting Takumi Oshima take over.  He told reporters the rookies' fastball felt heavy and was better than what a young Hideki Irabu threw.

Source: Sponichi 2/16/2013

Otani will likely toss some batting practice sometime during the last block of spring camp (beginning on the 19th).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013

Otani threw twenty-six off-speed pitches and twenty-four fastballs during his bullpen session on Friday.  Of the twenty-six off-speed pitches he tossed, six were sliders.  Pitching coach Takeharu Kato would like Otani to throw fewer sliders and work on throwing off-speed pitches with vertical movement.

Source: Sanspo 2/16/2013

========== Practice Games ==========

Yokohama Bay Stars 8 - Nippon Ham Fighters 9

Yokohama

• 2nd round draft pick Kazuki Mishima started the game and tossed two shutout innings.  He did not allow a hit, walked two (both came in the 1st), struck out one, and topped out at 149km/h.
• 5th round draft pick Tateki Abe allowed the tying run to score in the 6th inning.  He gave up six runs over two innings of work.
• 3rd round draft pick Shoichi Ino gave up the go-ahead run in the 8th inning.
• 4th round draft pick Daichi Akahori started in left and batted fifth.  He went 2-for-4 with an HBP and one RBI: solo homer off Yodai Enoshita in the 4th inning, reached base on an HBP in the 6th inning, and hit a single to left in the 8th.  In the 8th inning, he came around to score from first base on a double to right by Masayuki Kuwahara.
• Takehiro Ishikawa started a short and batted first.  He collected three hits and walked once.
• Shuto Takajo threw out two base-stealers in the 1st inning.  With the bases loaded and two out in the 1st, Takajo hit a two-run single to left.

Nippon Ham

• Masaru Nakamura started the game and allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits over three innings of work.  He gave up four runs in the 1st inning, including a home run to lead-off hitter Takehiro Ishikawa.
• Michel Abreu (tryout) went 2-for-4 with an RBI: a home run off 5th round draft pick Tateki Abe in the 6th inning and a double to center in the 7th inning.
• Atsushi Kita started at first and batted sixth.  He was taken out of the game after he hurt his left shoulder will diving for the ball on defense.

Source: Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013. Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Sanspo 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013

===

Hanshin Tigers 15 - Chunichi Dragons 11

Hanshin

• The offense scored fifteen runs on twenty-three hits.  Every position player in the starting line-up collected at least one hit.
• Daiki Enokida started the game and gave up three runs on five hits over two innings of work.  He gave up one in the 1st inning, then with runners on second and third and no out in the 2nd, he surrendered a home run to Daisuke Tanaka.  He topped out at 138km/h.
• Jason Standridge followed Daiki Enokida and gave up a run (unearned) on four hits over two innings of work.  He topped out at 147km/h.
• Kazuo Ito entered the game in the 7th and gave up a three-run home run to Yusuke Matsui.  He also gave up a two-run home run to Naomichi Donoue in the 8th.  He ultimately allowed seven runs on seven hits over 1.2 innings of work.
• Hayata Ito started in right and batted third.  He collected four hits and five RBI, including a two-out double to left-center off Yudai Kawai in his first at bat in the 1st inning and a three-run home run to right off Takehiko Tsuji in his second at bat in the 4th.  He was a triple away from the cycle.  Ito also shifted to left partway through the game.
• Hiroki Uemoto had two hits and three RBI.  He hit a two-run double in the 3rd inning.
• Brooks Conrad was the starting DH and batted fifth.  He tied the game at three with a home run off Takehiko Tsuji to lead off the 4th inning.
• Shinji Komiyama was the starting catcher and went 3-for-3: single to left in the 3rd, single to right in the 4th, single to left in the 5th.
• Takeshi Hidaka entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Brooks Conrad in the 5th inning and hit a solo home to right.
• Ryota Arai started at third and batted clean-up.  He went 3-for-6 with two RBI.
• Masashi Nohara had three hits.
• Yamato threw out a runner at home plate from center in the 8th inning.  He collected two hits.
• 4th round draft pick Shinya Azuhata entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 7th inning and hit a single to right.  He later came around to score.
• Shunsuke failed to lay down a bunt in the 4th with runners on first and second and no out.

Chunichi

• The offense scored eleven runs on nineteen hits.
• Takehiko Tsuji gave up eight runs on nine hits.
• Kento Yachi allowed five runs on ten hits.
• Shuhei Takahashi started at third and batted third.  He went 5-for-5 with an RBI: single to center, single to left, single to left, single to left, single to center.

Source: Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Sanspo 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Sports Hochi 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013, Sanspo 2/17/2013

===

Hanwha (KBO) vs Chunichi Dragons (carried over from Friday)

• Ryuya Ogawa started the game and tossed four shutout innings and allowed just one hit.

Source: official report

===

KIA (KBO) 5 - Yakult Swallows 9

• Katsuki Akagawa started the game and gave up two runs on three hits and three walks over three innings of work.  He struck out three.
• Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi relieved Akagawa and gave up three runs on four hits over two innings.  He struck out two.
• Kentaro Kyuko did not allow any hits or runs over two innings of work, but did walk two.
• Taiyo Fujita tossed two shutout innings.  He allowed two hits and struck out one.
• The offense banged out twelve hits.
• Down 5-0, the Swallows sent eleven batters to the plate in the 5th inning and scored seven runs.
• Yuhei Nakamura was the starting catcher and batted eighth.  He went 2-for-3 with two RBI: two doubles in the 5th inning -- he led off the inning with a double to left and later in the same inning, he hit a two-run double to left.
• Akinori Iwamura entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 5th and hit a single to left.
• Yasushi Iihara went 3-for-3 (all doubles) with four RBI.
• Yuhei went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

Source: official report, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Sports Hochi 2/16/2013, Sanspo 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013

===

Doosan (KBO) 2 - Seibu Lions 2

• Brian Sikorski started the game and tossed two shutout innings while allowing two hits and two walks.  He also topped out at 143km/h.
• Toshihiro Iwao followed Sikorski and gave up a run over three innings of work.
• Tatsuya Oishi tossed a scoreless 9th.
• With runners on first and second with no out in the 6th inning, Ryan Spilborghs cleared the bases with a triple to right-center.
• Shogo Akiyama collected two hits.
• 3rd round draft pick Yuji Kaneko started at third and went 2-for-3: single to right in the 3rd and a single to left in he 6th.  He also made a bad throw to second while trying to turn a double play in the 7th inning.

Source: official report, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013

========== Intra-squad Games ==========

Yomiuri Giants

• Whites beat the Reds, 4-3.
• 1st round draft pick Tomoyuki Sugano started the game for the Reds and tossed two shutout innings while allowing one hit and one walk.  He threw forty pitches (nine in the 1st and thirty-one in the 2nd) and topped out at 145km/h.  He retired the side in order in the 1st inning.  He got into some trouble in the second by putting runners on first and second -- he gave up a single to Jose Lopez and walked Ken Kato -- but managed to get out unscathed.
• Ryosuke Miyaguni started for the Whites and tossed two shutout innings.  He faced nine batters, gave up a hit, walked one, and struck out one.  He topped out at 147km/h.
• Kyosuke Takagi threw three shutout innings while allowing three hits.  He also struck out two.
• Manny Acosta gave up two runs on one hit over one inning of work for the Whites.
• Jose Lopez started at second and batted clean-up for the Whites.  He collected a single to left in the 2nd and hit a two-out RBI double in the 8th.  He also committed an error in the 2nd inning.
• Shigeyuki Furuki went 2-for-3 for the Whites.  He struck out in his first at bat in the 2nd inning.
• With a runner on first and two out in the 2nd inning, Fuminori Yokogawa hit a home run off Manny Acosta.
• Ken Kato managed to work out a twelve-pitch walk against Tomoyuki Sugano.

Source: Daily Sports 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Sanspo 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Sponichi 2/17/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013

===

Orix Buffaloes

• Reds blanked the Whites, 1-0.
• Takahiro Mahara started for the Reds and tossed a shutout inning.  He allowed a walk and topped out at 147km/h.
• Mike Schultz (tryout) tossed a shutout inning in relief.  He topped out at 144km/h.
• Masafumi Hirai tossed a perfect inning in relief.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Sports Hochi 2/17/2013

===

Chiba Lotte Marines

• Whites beat the Reds, 3-0.
• Kazunari Abe gave up a run on two hits over two innings of work.  He also issued three walks/HBPs.
• 4th round draft pick Shohei Kato started in center and batted lead-off for the Reds.  He went 2-for-4: batting from the right side, single to center off Yuta Kimura in the 1st inning; batting from the left side, a single to center off Taiki Nakago in the 3rd inning.  On defense, he threw out Shota Ishime at home plate in the 4th inning.
• Yoshifumi Okada started in right and batted lead-off for the Whites.  He hit a single to center in the 5th and was thrown out trying to steal a base.

Source: official report, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013, Sports Hochi 2/17/2013

===

Softbank Hawks

• The Whites beat the Reds, 5-2 (six innings).
• Hayato Terahara, Ryota Igarashi, Shogo Yamamoto, and Shitaro Ejiri for the Whites.
• Hayato Terahara started for the Whites and tossed two shutout inning.  He threw seventeen pitches, topped out at 145km/h and faced six batters.
• Ryota Igarashi tossed a shutout inning relief while allowing two hits and a walk.  Base-runners also stole two bases while he was on the mound.  He threw twenty-eight pitches.
• Kodai Senga started the game for the Reds and tossed two shutout innings.  He topped out at 150km/h and fanned Bryan LaHair and Atsushi Fukumoto.
• Yuya Hasegawa batted third for the Whites and collected two hits.
• Ryuma Kidokoro stole two bases for the Reds.
• Nobuhiko Matsunaka drove in two runs for the Reds in the top of the 6th.

Source: official report, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Sponichi 2/16/2013, Sports Hochi 2/17/2013