The Eagles had the day off today.

Wataru Karashima is scheduled to start an exhibition game against Yakult on Saturday.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013

Ryo Hijirisawa returned to the team today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013

===

Andruw Jones left the team today to begin his workouts with WBC Netherlands.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013

========== Practice Games ==========

Chiba Lotte Marines 4 - Hanshin Tigers 2

Hanshin

• The offense scored two runs on five hits over the first three innings and was then held hitless over the remaining six.
• Jason Standridge started the game and tossed two shutout innings.  He gave up two hits (one each inning) and struck out one.  He topped out at 143km/h.
• Randy Messenger relieved Standridge and did not allow a run over two innings.  He surrendered one hit and topped out at 149km/h.
• Daiki Enokida gave up four runs on six hits over three innings of work.  All four runs scored in his third inning of work.  He topped out at 142km/h.
• Naoto Tsuru entered the game in the 8th and retired six in a row.
• Hiroki Uemoto started at short and batted first.  He went 1-for-4.  He shifted to second in the 4th inning.
• Yamato started in center and batted second.  He hit a double to left-center in the 1st inning.
• Tsuyoshi Nishioka started at second and batted third.  He went 2-for-2 (two singles to left).
• Kosuke Fukudome started in right and batted fifth.  He grounded out to the pitcher with runners on first and third and two out in the 1st inning and hit a two-run single to left off Yuta Kimura with the bases loaded and two out in the 3rd inning.
• Nishoka and Fukudome were taken out of the game after three innings.
• Akihito Fujii threw out Yoshifumi Okada trying to steal second in the 3rd inning.

Lotte

• The offense banged out five consecutive hits in the 3rd inning to score two runs.  The five players: Saburo, Shoitsu Omatsu, Masahiko Tanaka, Kei Hosoya, and Ikuhiro Kiyota.
• Yuta Kimura started the game and gave up two runs on five hits over three innings of work.  He also struck out one and hit one.  He did not allow a run until he gave up a bases loaded, two-run single to Kosuke Fukudome with two out in the 3rd inning.
• Kazunari Abe, Ryoji Katsuki, and Yasutaka Hattori did not allow any runs or hits from the 4th inning on.
• 4th round draft pick Shohei Kato started in center and batted lead-off.  He went 0-for-4.

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sanspo 2/21/2013, Daily Sports 2/21/2013, Daily Sports 2/21/2013, Daily Sports 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013, Sanspo 2/22/2013, Sanspo 2/22/2013, Sanspo 2/22/2013, Sanspo 2/22/2013, Sanspo 2/22/2013, Daily Sports 2/22/2013

===

Yakult Swallows 3 - Yomiuri Giants 0

Yakult

• 1st round draft pick Taichi Ishiyama did not allow a run over two shutout innings.  He gave up two hits, walked two, and struck out two.  He threw a total forty-two pitches.
• Kentaro Kyuko (2 IP, 2 H, 1 SO, 0 R), Taiyo Fujita (2 IP, 1 H, 1 SO, 0 R), and Tatsuyoshi Masubuchi (2 IP, 2 H, 1 SO, 0 R) each threw two shutout innings.
• Akinori Iwamura was the starting DH and batted fourth.  He went 1-for-2 with an RBI: fly out to right in the 2nd inning, two-out solo home run off Kyosuke Takagi in the 4th, walk in the 6th, replaced by a pinch-hitter in the 8th.
• Yasushi Iihara started in left and batted fifth.  He went 2-for-3.

Yomiuri

• Dennis Houlton started the game and tossed two shutout innings while allowing one hit.
• Kyosuke Takagi relieved Houlton and gave up a run on one hit over two innings of work.
• Kentaro Nishimura entered the game in the 8th inning and retired six straight batters.
• Taishi Ota started in center and batted first.  He went 2-for-3: single to center, single to left.

Source: official report (Yakult), Sponichi 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sanspo 2/21/2013, Sanspo 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/22/2013, Sanspo 2/22/2013

===

Nexen (KBO) 2 - Nippon Ham Fighters 4

• Toshiharu Moriuchi started the game and tossed three shutout innings.  He did not allow any hits but did hit a batter.  He faced nine batters and struck out three.
• Hisashi Takeda (9th inning) and Hirotoshi Masui (8th) each tossed perfect innings in relief.  Takeda tossed the 9th inning and struck out two.  He needed only eleven pitches to get through the inning.  Masui topped out at 149km/h.
• Naoki Miyanishi entered the game in the 6th and recorded two strikeouts.
• Yuya Ishii surrendered a solo home run to the lead-off batter in the 7th.  He also struck out three.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sanspo 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013

===

KIA (KBO) 5 - Rakuten Eagles 3

• Takahiro Shiomi started the game and gave up five runs on seven hits over three innings of work.  All five runs scored in the 3rd inning.
• Brandon Duckworth relieved Shiomi and tossed three shutout innings while allowing two hits.
• Andruw Jones was the starting DH and batter fourth.  He went 0-for-2: G5, HBP, DP.
• Ginji started at second and batted fifth.  He went 3-for-4: 1B to center, 1B to left, 1B to left, G3.
• Casey McGehee started at third and batted sixth.  He went 0-for-2: DP, Ks.
• Tetsuro Nishida started at short and batted seventh.  He went 2-for-4: 2B to left, G6, F9, 1B to right.

Source: official report, Sponichi 2/21/2013, Sports Hochi 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013

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

Hiroshima Carp

• Game ended in a 2-2 tie.
• Masamitsu Suzuki started in right and batted eighth.  He hit a two-out, RBI triple to left-center of Kyohei Nakamura in the 2nd inning.
• 4th round draft pick Ko Shimozuru collected a hit and a stolen base.
• Brad Eldred batted fourth for the Whites and hit a run-scoring double off he wall in center in the 1st inning.
• Fred Lewis batted third for the Whites and hit a run-scoring double to left-center in the 6th.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sponichi 2/22/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013

===

Softbank Hawks

• Whites beat the Reds, 4-1.
• Hayato Terahara started for the Reds and allowed three runs on four hits and four walks over three innings of work.  He threw sixty-three pitches.
• Vicente Padilla started for the Whites started the game and gave up a run (unearned) on two hits over two innings of work.  He topped out at 140km/h.  He also threw three slow curves -- one was clocked at 81km/h.  Padilla also had some difficulties on the mound: he failed to cover first on a grounder to the right side of the infield in the 1st inning; he may have ignored a pick-off play at second base in the 1st inning; and he was called for a balk in the 2nd with runners on first and third.
• 6th round draft pick Hirofumi Yamanaka tossed a shutout inning in relief for the Reds.  He did not allow any hits.
• Bryan LaHair hit a home run off Terahara to lead-off the 3rd inning.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Sports Hochi 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2013, Sports Hochi 2/22/2013, Sports Hochi 2/22/2013

Takero Okajima and Toshihito Abe were sent down to Ni-gun because of injuries -- Okajima with right elbow pain and Abe with left shoulder pain.

Shota Koseki was called up.

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

===

Singer-songwriter Kazumasa Oda is scheduled to throw the ceremonial first pitch on opening day (April 2 vs Orix at Kleenex Stadium).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

========== 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

========== Practice Games ==========

KIA (KBO) 2 - Yakult Swallows 3

• Kyohei Muranaka started the game and tossed three shutout innings while allowing one hit.  He threw thirty-nine pitches, topped out at 145km/h, and struck out four.
• 2nd round draft pick Yasuhiro Ogawa relieved Muranaka and tossed two shutout innings.  He gave up one hit, struck out two, and topped out at 148km/h.
• 4th round draft pick Masaya Emura gave up a run (unearned) over two innings of work.  He struck out three and walked one.
• Tetsuto Yamada started at short and batted ninth.  He went 2-for-4 with three RBI.

Source: official report, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Sanspo 2/18/2013, Sponichi 2/19/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

===

Samsung (KBO) 0 - Rakuten Eagles 8

• The offense scored eight runs on twelve hits.
• Kenji Tomura started the game and tossed three shutout innings.  He gave up two hits, walked two, and topped out at 143km/h.
• 2nd round draft pick Takahiro Norimoto relived Tomura and did not allow a run over three innings of work.  He gave up one hit, struck out three, and topped out at 148km/h.
• Jim Heuser tossed two shutout innings in relief.
• Yusuke Kosai started at first and batted third.  He collected three hits, including two doubles, and drove in two runs.
• Andruw Jones was the starting DH and batted clean-up. He went 2-for-2.  He drove in the first run of the game when he hit a double down the third base line with a runner on first and two out in the 1st inning.

Source: official report, Sports Hochi 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013, Sponichi 2/19/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013, Sports Hochi 2/19/2013

The Eagles announced that Yoshitaka Muto (25) filed marriage papers with a thirty-three-year-old woman from Sapporo on January 1.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/18/2013

===

Andruw Jones and Casey McGehee are apparently trying to learn at least one Japanese word a day.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/18/2013

===

Hiroyuki Fukuyama has not allowed a run over five consecutive innings (two intra-quad games, one practice game).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013

===

Daisuke Kato joined Ichi-gun camp for workouts on Saturday.  Kato has been working on making adjustments to his mechanics, particularly with how he uses his glove hand.

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

===

Yasunori Kikuchi is scheduled to pitch in Sunday's practice game against Hanshin.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013

===

Kazuya Fujita (left oblique) might be ok to play in a rehab game some time in mid-March.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013

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Senichi Hoshino likes Inter-league games and thinks it's good for the game.  He also feels the Inter-league schedule should be split into spring and fall.

"I think the addition of Inter-league games was great.  I also like the Climax [Series].  So what is next?  That is what I am wondering," said Hoshino.

He continued, "They should split the Inter-league games into spring and fall. ... I cannot help but feel that [the current scheduling system] is not very effective. ... If you play some [Inter-league] games in the fall, it would make the Climax Series races interesting and would give the games more meaning.  That would also help increase attendance."

Source: Daily Sports 2/16/2013

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Team owner Hiroshi Mikitani visited camp in Kin, Okinawa on Saturday.

Source: Sponichi 2/16/2013