The Giants had the day off today.

===

Ryosuke Miyaguni is scheduled to start Saturday's exhibition game against Hiroshima.

Source: Sanspo 2/22/2013

===

1st round draft pick Tomoyuki Sugano was feeling better today and worked out on his day off.  He is still scheduled to start an exhibition game against Rakuten on the 24th.

Source: Sponichi 2/22/2013

===

The Giants announced that at home will be an official team sponsor in 2013.

Source: official announcement

===

Tomoya Ichikawa, Daisuke Nakai, and Takahiro Suzuki will be demoted to Ni-gun.  Yoshitomo Tani will be called up.

Source: Sanspo 2/21/2013

===

1st round draft pick Tomoyuki Sugano figures he will probably throw about 150 pitches on days he tosses a complete game (total includes pre-game bullpen session).

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2013

Sugano ended workouts early today because of a stomach pains (not serious).

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2013

===

Shuichi Murata arrived in Okinawa today.  He reported to camp later in the day and worked out for about an hour.

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013

========== 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

Shuichi Murata strengthened the protective fingernail cover on his right middle finger on Tuesday with additional layers of silk and acrylic.

Source: Sponichi 2/20/2013

===

Kyosuke Takagi is scheduled to make a start against Samurai Japan on the 28th at YafuOku Dome.

Source: Nikkan 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

===

Ryosuke Miyaguni is scheduled to start an exhibition game against Hiroshima on the 23rd.

Source: Daily Sports 2/19/2013

===

Michihiro Ogasawara spent time in the weight room today.  He suffered a laceration on his left index finger on Sunday that required fifteen stitches.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

===

1st round draft pick Tomoyuki Sugano is scheduled to start an exhibition game against Rakuten at Okinawa Cellular on the 24th.  After that, on six days of rest, starts against Softbank at Tokyo Dome on March 3 and Hanshin at Koshien on March 10.

Source: Sponichi 2/19/2013

========== Practice Games ==========

SK (KBO) vs Yokohama Bay Stars (Ni-gun)

• Shugo Fujii started the game and did not allow a run over two innings of work.  He gave up two hits, struck out three, and topped out at 138km/h.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013

===

Samsung (KBO) 2 - Yomiuri Giants 3

• Shoki Kasahara started the game and tossed three shutout innings.  He struck out four, topped out at 145km/h, and allowed just one hit, a lead-off double in the 1st.
• Daisuke Fujimura entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 5th inning and hit a single to center.
• Taishi Ota entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the 5th and hit a single to center.  He also hit a sac fly to center in the 7th.  On defense, he allowed a runner on second to score by misplaying a ball hit to center in the 6th.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013, Sponichi 2/19/2013, Sanspo 2/19/2013, Sponichi 2/20/2013

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

Orix Buffaloes

• Whites beat the Reds, 3-2.
• Tomoya Yagi was a starter and gave up a run on one hit over three innings of work.  Yagi gave up a run in the 1st and retired the side in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings.
• Yuki Nishi tossed three shutout innings while allowing one hit.
• 1st round draft pick Torai Fushimi threw out three base-stealers at second in the 8th inning.
• Ryoichi Adachi started at short and batted eighth.  He went 2-for-2 with the HBP and a stolen base.
• Vinny Rottino started in left and batted third.  He hit a home run off Satoshi Komatsu in the 9th inning.
• Six runners were caught trying to steal a base.  Ryoichi Adachi and Takayoshi Kawabata were the only players that managed to succeed (one each).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/19/2013, Sports Hochi 2/19/2013, Sponichi 2/20/2013, Sponichi 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2013, Sports Hochi 2/20/2013, Sanspo 2/20/2013

===

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

===

Ryuya Matsumoto is scheduled to start Wednesday's practice game against Hanshin.

Source: Daily Sports 2/18/2013

===

Tatsunori Hara told reporters on Sunday that they will be hold off on making cuts because everyone was working hard.  They will continue to carry twenty position players.

Taishi Ota (right hamstring tightness) has started to swing the bat again and is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday, just in time for a practice game against Samsung (KBO).

Source: Sponichi 2/18/2013

===

Ryosuke Miyaguni is scheduled to pitch in an exhibition game against Hiroshima on the 23rd.

Source: Daily Sports 2/17/2013

===

Kyosuke Takagi is trying to prepare for a potential role in the starting rotation by throwing a lot.  He threw 132 pitches in a bullpen session on the 14th, tossed three innings during an intra-squad game on the 16th, and then threw 130 pitches in the bullpen today.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/17/2013

===

Seiji Tahara hurt his lower back during an intra-squad game on Saturday.  He worked out separately from the rest of the team today and ended workouts early.

Source: Sanpso 2/17/2013

===

1st round draft pick Tomoyuki Sugano is slated to pitch in an exhibition game against Rakuten on the 24th.  He is hoping to get through three innings in under fifty pitches.

Source: Sponichi 2/17/2013, Daily Sports 2/17/2013

===

Taishi Ota and Yoshihito Ishii ended workouts early on Saturday -- Ota felt some tightness in his right hamstring and Ishii felt some discomfort in his lower back.

Source: Daily Sports 2/16/2013

===

Head coach Masahiro Kawai spent about forty minutes (two twenty minute sessions) on Friday giving 2nd round draft pick Susumu Orui advice on how to lay down bunts.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/16/2013