Kanemoto joins 'Meikyukai' Raps 2,000th hit in seventh off BayStars' Terahara Tigers 6 BayStars 3 (April 12) YOKOHAMA, Apr 12, 2008--Tomoaki Kanemoto finally got his 2,000th career hit after an 0-for-15 slump as the Hanshin Tigers rallied to beat the Yokohama BayStars 6-3 on Saturday. Kanemoto lined an RBI single to right on a 2-2 fastball from Hayato Terahara (1-2) in the seventh inning, pushing Hanshin's lead to 5-3 at Yokohama Stadium and becoming the 37th player in Japanese baseball to join the "Meikyukai (Golden Players Club), a prestigious fraternity received for players that reach 2,000 hits, earn 200 wins or amass 250 saves. "Sorry that I kept fans waiting too long, but I'm glad I had my 2,000th hit with a runner in scoring position," Kanemoto said. "I'll try to continue to get as many hits as possible in a Tigers uniform," added Kanemoto, who went 1-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs, one on a run-scoring groundout in the first. The 40-year-old outfielder has extended his unofficial world record of playing in consecutive games without missing an inning to 1,199 ? a record dating back to July 21, 1999. He is also three home runs shy of becoming the 15th Nippon Professional Baseball player to reach 400 homers. Hanshin tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth on a two-run single by Norihiro Akahoshi and made it 5-3 when Kanemoto followed a Takahiro Arai go-ahead triple with his base hit. Ryo Watanabe (1-0) picked up the win in relief. Kyuji Fujikawa earned his Central League-leading eighth save with a scoreless ninth. Shuichi Murata put Yokohama ahead 3-1 with a two-run homer in the third, but Terahara blew the lead and was chased in the seventh. (Japan Times) Box score Recent articles (2007) • Hanshin withdraws from Fukudome hunt - The Hanshin Tigers have dropped out of the hunt for free agentoutfielder Kosuke Fukudome, club president Nobuo Minami said... (11/27) • Free agent Arai agrees to join Hanshin - Slugger Takahiro Arai has agreed to join the Hanshin Tigers after the free agent held a second round of negotiations in Fukuoka with the Central League club... (11/21) Hanshin beats the Yankees! (2004) • Yankees lose to Hanshin, 11-7 - mlb.com - includes a box score and video of Yano's inside-the-park home run. Articles from 2003 • Hanshin's Paper Tigers - This excellent essay appears in the current Asian edition of Time magazine. The social analysis is spot on. (9/1) • Tigers,Tigers Burning Bright: Can a Kansai institution convert pennants into pennies? - Probably the best-researched business article I've seen on the Tigermania in Osaka. From J@pan.Inc magazine (Aug 2003) • Hanshin Tigers Prowling for the Pennant - One of Captain Japan's regular columns on Japan. And the focus this month is on the big party waiting to happen in the Osaka area. (8/19) • Tigers' bite bewilders Japanese baseball fans - Jonathan Watts of the UK newspaper, The Guardian, writes about the Tigers in his typically cynical Tokyo-centric style. (7/26) • Aussie closer slides into Tigers scheme - Jim Allen interviews Jeff Williams, Hanshin's Aussie closer. (7/3) Links: • Japanesebaseball.com - Full of information on Japanese baseball, with some great forums too. • YakyuShop - Yakyushop sells Japanese baseball jerseys and caps from all the pro teams, and now cards as well - worldwide shipping, direct from Japan. Credit cards accepted. • Rob's Japanese Baseball cards - Looking for classic baseball cards? This site has a wide range of cards for the serious collector. • Torakichinet.com - And now you can show your loyalty by wearing a Tiger suit! No, not one with stripes - these are custom made men's business suits with a Hanshin Tigers lining. This site is in Japanese only, but if you need help with ordering, just let me know. Oh, and if you mention the Hanshin Tigers Page, you'll get a discount! • Check out this cool Tiger tank - From Osaka model maker Omami