THE JAPAN NEWS


 

 
The Yomiuri Shimbun

What started as a lousy at-bat for the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles was instead turned into a run-scoring opportunity thanks to a Yomiuri Giants’ fielding blunder, which changed the complexion of the game.

Giants outfielders Garrett Jones and Itaru Hashimoto collided on a routine fly ball in the eighth inning, opening the door for the Eagles to pull away to a 4-1 interleague victory on Tuesday night at Tokyo Dome.

Leading by one run, Rakuten put runners on first and second with no outs. Eagles manager Masataka Nashida sent up Toshihito Abe to pinch-hit for first baseman Yasuhito Uchida.

“He’s a better bunter than Uchida,” Nashida explained later.
But the 27-year-old, left-handed hitting Abe fouled off the first two pitches attempting to lay down a bunt. Having to swing away and looking to move up the runners any way he could, Abe tried to pull the ball to right field. But he only managed to pop up a low outside pitch to left-center field.

But as center fielder Hashimoto made the catch, Jones, coming over from left field, crashed head first into Hashimoto’s left arm, sending both the ball and his glove flying loose. Abe was credited with a double on the play as the runner on second came around to score.

Jones, who started the season at first base, was playing just his third game in the outfield. Jones said that he could not hear Hashimoto calling for the ball amid the noise of the crowd.

“Hashimoto needs to realize he was wrong,” Giants outfielder and baserunning coach Takayuki Onishi said. “He is a better fielder and has more experience in center field, and needs to widen his range of vision.”
Jones suffered a bloody nose and left the game.