Seibu Lion's schedule - Click here!
August
16, 2008 - Hiram celebrates his three run homer! (photo by Mark
Abbott)
The Lions travel to play the Ham Foo Fighters. After dropping Sunday's game 3-9 (Hiram had the day off) the Lions take game two with a 4 -3 win. Hiram is hit by two pitches, flies out to the outfield and pops out to the catcher.
Enthusiastic fans show their support for Hiram!
(photo by Jocy Ardono Bocachica - August 2008)
(photo by Jocy Ardono Bocachica - August 2008)
August 21
Although the Lions let the game slip away - Boca makes a great effort to win the game.
In the 3rd inning Hiram gets a double. He scores when Nakamura hit a line drive to left field.
Hiram is 2 for 4 in todays game with both hits being doubles. The Soft Bank Hawks win 9 to 5.
It looks like Hiram had a couple of great plays in the outfield as there are pictures on the Lion's website of him making some fine defensive plays.
August 20
The Lions continue their dominance in the Pacfic League with another win against the Soft Bank Hawks.
In a 7 - 1 rout, Hiram is 1 for 4 with a run and an RBI. He also had a walk.
August 19
Not sure what happened in today's game - something big in the 4th but the translation is too much for me!
What I do know is that the Lion's CRUSHED the Soft Bank Hawks - 12 to 3.
Hiram went 2 for 5 with a couple of runs or RBI's.
Something interesting happended in the 4th inning but I can't figure it out.
August 18
The Lions drop a game to the Buffaloes - 7 to 4.
Hiram is 1 -4 with a basehit in the 7th inning.
August 17
Fan Club President, Mark Abbott, will be celebrating his birthday at Seibu Dome watching the Lions against the Buffaloes.
Happy Birthday Mark!!!
The Lions will the game 4 to 1!
August 16
The Lions host the Orix Buffaloes. The hometown fans were treated to an extended game with the Lions winning in the 10th inning.
Hiram went 3 for 5 in today's game!
Going into the 9th inning the Lions are down by three runs. Hiram comes up to bat with two runners on base. He explodes with a bullet line drive OUT of the left field fence. This is Hiram's 18 homerun! The Lions are tied 7 to 7.
Into the 10th Hirao hits a walk off homerun for the win!
Mark Abbott sent in this report for today's game:
We got there late (2nd inning) and did not get to see Hiram's first at bat but he got a hit. His second at bat he hit a double between the left and center fielder. He got to 3rd on a fielder's choice but was left stranded there.
In his 3rd at bat he was hit by the first pitch, a fast ball to his left shoulder. The coaches and trainers took a long look at his arm and then allowed him to continue playing. He was left stranded when Brazell struck out. He grounded out on his next at bat - a ground ball up the middle that almost was a base hit.
In his last at bat with 1 out in the bottom of the 9th and with the Lions down 7-4, he worked the count to 1-2, swinging and missing at a nasty forkball for two strikes. The pitcher threw the same exact pitch but it didn't break as much and Hiram unloaded on the pitch, hitting a line drive HR over the left field fence to tie the game at 7-7.
His fan club in right field went crazy as did the rest of the Seibu Dome. He was presented with the hero's stuffed Lion after he scored and the cheers brought him out of the dugout to acknowledge their cheers. When he came out to right field in the top of the 10th, the entire outfield cheering section was chanting his name, so he took a bow. The game ended with a walk-off HR by one of the Seibu players (still not sure who hit it, BTW) in the bottom of the 10th for an 8-7 win over Orix (Ichiro's old team).
August 15
The Lions face a loss against the Golden Eagles - 9 to 4.
Hiram had a double to left field in the 6th inning. Later Boca scores on a Gotou single to left field.
Boca is 1 for 4.
August 14
Another win for the Lions! Down go the Golden Eagles: 8 to 2. Boca has a great game going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI's.
In the first inning he gets a double (?) to left field.
Boca adds to his homerun count and drives in 2 runs in the 7th. :)
August 13
After winning 4 games in a row the Lions suffer a loss against the Rakuten Golden Eagles: 11 to 7.
Hiram has one hit in the 7th inning: a n RBI single.
August 12
The Lions win BIG thanks in part to Hiram's first inning homerun and stellar defense in the outfield.
After hitting his 16th homerun in the first Boca goes on to get 2 more hits.
Hiram had a homerun to left field in the 1st inning
In the 5th inning he had a single to left field.
He walked in the 8th and then had a single to right field in the 9th.
Suffice it to say the Lions 8 to 4 win must have been an exciting game!
August 11
The Lions win 3 to 0 - Hiram does not get a hit in today's game.
August 10
The Lions return to play against the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
Thanks to Hiram's two doubles the Lions win 11 to 2. Hiram also had a walk in today's game, going 2 for 3.
Hiram scored a run and batted in a run.
August 6
Watch a walk-off homerun from May 6 - YouTube!
(Lions resume play on Sunday, August 10)
August 4
This morning I was greeted with this e-mail:
Hi Jere,
Today Boca is amazing!!
Please update the website!
Boca's flag was on TV!!
It was VERY exciting!!
Tomoyuki Kurihara
Upon checking the Lion's website I found that the Lions won: 16 to 2 and Hiram went 2 for 4.
It took me a little longer to find out just how exciting Hiram made the game!!
In the first inning with two runners on base Hiram hit his 14th homerun!
As if making up for lost time, in the 2nd inning Hiram hits a GRAND SLAM HOMERUN!
Boca must have also been defensive player of the game as there is a picture of him catching a ball in the outfield.
Now wonder his fan club banner was on T.V.!!
What an exciting game the fans of the Seibu Lions must have witnessed!!
Boca now has 15 homeruns on the season.
August 3
Hiram is back with the Seibu Lions after a short stint in the minors.
He is batting third in the line-up in the first game back.
Althought he didn't get a hit, it is good to see Boca back with the team.
July 17
Keep track of Hiram's progress while playing for the Seibu Lion's farm team !
Daily box score
Simple click on the yellow arrow to find the current date.
Here is what Hiram's name looks like in Japanese: ボカチカ
July 13
Althought the Lions lose the games to the Marines 5 to 4, Boca finds his bat and goes 2 for 5 with two runs batted in.
That is all the information I can find ont he website.
Aliyah models the lasted t-shirt!
July 12
Results from Saturday's game:
Boca is batting 4th in the line up. He went 0 for 4.
He made an attempt to throw the batter out with an impressive through from the outfield but the runner scored dispite his strong attempt.
Thank you to Tomoyuki Kurihara and his friend for providing this information.
July 10
Boca will have chance to work on his batting as he is sent to the minors today.
After struggling at the plate for most of inner league play I am sure the Lion's management want him to get back on track.
July 6
Hiram returns to the line up in todays game against the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Although the Lions lose the game 5 to 7, Hiram gets a hit in the game.
In the 4th inning Hiram hit a sacrifice fly.
I am having trouble with the translation so not sure when he got the hit. He went 1 for 3.
All that said, it is good to see Hiram hit again and I hope it continues! I am sure he feels the same way.
July 2
After a few days of rest the Lions return to league play and go on the road to face the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Foo Fighters.
Hiram does not play in the games on July 1 and 2.
The Lions with both games on the 1st and 2nd. The final game of this series against the Foo Fighters is Thursday. Then the team has July 4 off.
June 27
The conclusion of interleague play comes and after a four day break the Lions resume play at home. They reward their fans with a
4-1 win against the Marines.
Hiram's bat is silent as he goes 0 for 3.
June 22
The team gets another day off as rain keeps the game from being played.
June 21
On the road to play the Yokohama BayStars for a two game series before the break, the Lions are hoping to stop their 4 game losing streak.
Boca is batting 7th in the line-up.
After a swinging strike out in the 2nd inning, Boca gets down to business in the 5th with a solo homerun. This is his 13th of the season which ties him for 6th place in the Pacific League standings with his teammate and friend, Nakajima.
In the 7th inning Hiram gets and infield base hit. It appears that the Baystars defense was unable to handle the ball in time for the out.
Tied at 4 a piece going into the 9th inning, the Baystars put a run on the board which the Lions are unable to answer to in the 10th.
The losing streak goes on to 5 games with one more chance tomorrow to break the slide before a 4 game hiatus.
However, Boca gets back on track with 2 hits and a run with his solo homer. Maybe tomorrow the rest of the team will follow suit.
June 18
The Lions can't seem to out run the Dragons, losing again on the road with a score of 3 -2.
Hiram is batting 7th in the lineup. He goes 1 for 4, hitting a one out single to center field in the 4th inning.
The Lions have the next two days off.
June 17
The Lions are on the road to play Chunichi Dragons.
With the score tied at 4 each, Boca comes in to play in the 9th to pinch hit for Hoshino. Boca draws a walk. The next batter grounds into a double play for the 3rd out in the inning.
The Dragon's score in the bottom of the 9th for the win: 5 to 4.
June 15
Happy Father's Day!
The Lions play game two against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. The Carp come out on top with a win: 4 to 2.
Hiram gets a basehit to left field.
The team has a day off on Monday.
June 14
After a day off the Lions return to their home stadium to face the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
The Carp are the victors in this contest: 8 to 1.
Hiram is 0-4 with two strike-outs.
June 12
The Lions are victorious in a win over the Hanshin Tigers - 6 to 3.
Boca, while hitless, scores two runs after getting on base with two walks.
I think Boca is hit by a pitch in the 6th inning - after striking out in the 2nd, walking in the 3rd. He flies out in 7th.
But the Lions win and continue to sit at the top of the Pacific League.
June 11
The Lions return home after a road trip and a day off. Interestingly enough, I woke up this morning to find an unusual occurance when I logged on to the 'Hiram Today' and clicked on the link to the Lions scoreboard - no score. While a game is listed the game's results were missing.
Curious as to what was going on I began looking for some hidden clues on the Lion website - hidden because I do not speak or read Japanese. A while ago I found a great page that is similar to 'gameday' on MLB websites. It also as a 'play by play' where you can see the results of each players at-bat.
So here I can see that the game is still in progress! Or at least they are only getting the data typed in.
I scrolled down the innings looking for Boca's name - that is the one Japanese word I CAN read - ボカチカ.
In the 5th inning Boca gets his first hit in 7 games by hitting a double to the left field fence. Later Boca scores on a sacrifice fly by Kanamoto.
In the bottom of the 7th inning Boca starts the inning with a solo homerun to left field! This is his 12th homerun on the season! Way to go Boca!!!
Although the Lions drop this game to the Hanshin Tigers, 6 to 4, Hiram breaks a 7 game hitless streak going 2 for 4.
Here we go, Boca! Here we go!
June 7, 8, 9
June 7 - Lions win (Lions 5 - 3 Swallows)
June 8 - (Lions 0 - 4 Giants)
June 9 - Lions win (Lions 9 - 3 Giants)
Boca is hittless in the last 7 games.
The Lions have the day off on June 10.
June 6
The Lions are on the road continuing playing the Tokyo Swallows. Interleague play continues to baffle the Lions as the drop this first game in the series - 1 to 7.
Boca is 0 for 2. He is pinch hit for in the 8th but that batter fails at the plate.
Hang in there Boca! We know what you are capable of doing so just hang in there! We know you are able to get into the groove and continue in helping the Lion's stay in first place!
Boca is in a three way tie for 6th place in the Pacific Leagues homerun contest with 11 homeruns.
June 5
The Lions have a day off today.
June 4
The Lions manage another win against the Baystars: 2 to 1.
Boca goes 0 for 3, with a walk and two stike outs.
June 3
The Lions host the Baystars as inter-league play continues.
Boca does not get a hit though the Lions win: 7 to 3.
June 1
Hiram has a much deserved day off in today's game. The Lions win - 10 to 3.
The Lions have the day of on Monday.
May 31
After a day off the Lions are host to Central League Chunichi Dragons. The Lions fall behind in the 7th inning, dropping the game 4 to 3.
Hiram is 0 for 2 with a walk. He is pinch hit for in the 9th with no results.
May 29
Although the Lions lose the game against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Hiram gets back to the business of homeruns by hitting a solo homer in the 5th inning for the the Lions only run.
This is Boca's 11th homerun and puts him 5th in the battle for the homerun leader in the Pacific League. Hiram is batting .283.
After the 3 to 1 loss, the Lions have a day off. Play resumes on Saturday.
May 28
The Lions are hosted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as interleague play continues. Seibu ends up with a win: 5 to 3.
Hiram is 1 for 4: he gets on base with a single to center field and later scores one of the Lions 5 runs.
Hiram is now batting 7th and continues to play center field. Hiram is batting .282.
After tomorrow's game the Lion's have a day off and Hiram welcomes his family as they join him in Japan for the first time this season.
May 27
Although it appears that the was a game scheduled today there is no score and the schedule notes that it is a "spare day." (Whatever that means.)
May 26
The Lions are on the road to play the Hanshin Tigers in a game that goes 11 innings. In the end, the Tigers claw their way to the top with a win - 1 to 2.
Hiram is 0-2 with two walks.
May 23 - 25
Interleague play continues: On May 23 the Lions continue their contest against the Yomiuri Giants with a win 10 to 1.
On May 24 the Lions, in game two against the Giants, win again 4 to 2.
On Sunday, May 25 the Giants return the favor and take a game from the Lions - 1 to 5.
Boca is now batting 7th in the lineup, batting .289. Interleague play hasn't been very kind to Boca.
May 22
Game two against the Swallows ends more favorable the Lions as they gain a victory - 7 to 2.
Boca is 0 for 3 with one walk and a run.
He is batting .303.
May 21
After a couple of days off Boca is back . The Lions drop the first game against the Tokyo Swallows in interleague play - 5 to 4.
Boca is 1 for 2 with walk and two sacrifice hits. (I think, using my newly found play -by - play action.)
Boca's batting average is .314.
May 18
Tired of losing, the Lion's take advantage of the Golden Eagles in the 4th inning, scoring all their runs in that inning.
The Lions win - 7 to 3.
I found an inninig - by - inning feature on the Lions website :) and from what I can telll here is what Boca did in the game.
In his first at-bat in the 2nd inning he struck out.
In the 4th inning Boca hits a single, makes it around to 3rd and for some reason a pinch runner is brought in. (Not sure why.)
Both teams are finished producing any runs after the 4th inning.
The team has two days off before resuming play on May 21.
May 17
Kleenex Stadium hosts another loss for the Lions as the Rakuten Golden Eagles and the Seibu Lions go 12 innings. In the bottom of the 12th inning the Eagles end up the victor - 3 to 2.
Hiram is 1 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and one walk.
May 16
In a game against the Rakuten Golden Eagles the Lions get plenty of hits but fail to score any runs. In a rare occurance the Lions lose a game 8 to 2.
Hiram is 1 - 3 in this game.
May 15
The Lions continue their wining ways with another big win over Softbank Hawks - 10 to 3.
Boca is 1 for 3 - with one walk.
He scores two runs on a homerun. He is batting .307.
This just in from Ei Ikawa -
Congratulations!!Your 10th homerun.
I think you will be homerun-king in Pacific league.
May 14
Lions 11, Hawks 4
At Fukuoka's Yahoo Dome, Takahiko "G.G." Sato and Hiram Bocachica each homered twice and drove in four runs apiece as Pacific League leader Seibu pounded Softbank to win its seventh in eight games.
Hiroyuki Nakajima had a sacrifice fly in the third inning before Sato's solo shot and a Bocachica two-run drive padded the lead in the fourth. Sato's three-run blast made it 7-1 in the fifth and Bocachica went deep with a two-run homer in the seventh.
Hideaki Wakui (4-3) allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings. Michael Restovich hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh for Softbank but the damage had already been done.
Boca's batting .306.
May 13
After a much deserved day off the Lions have trouble getting enough runs on the board against the Softbank Hawks. Each team gets ten hits and Boca gets two of them. He is 2 for 4 on the day with one of the Lions runs.
The Lions remain in first place in the Pacific Coast League.
Boca's fans continue to be enthusiastic about his efforts for their team!
May 6
Watch Boca's interview after his walk-off homerun after May 6th's game.
Watch Boca's walk-off homerun!
Listen to the song that is played when Boca comes up to bat.
The lyrics mean:
Draw a big rainbow to put on the wind from the south.
To answers everyone's expectation, Homerun! Boca!
Thank you Akira for this wonderful information.
May 6
I awoke this morning to find this message in my e-mail:
This is Akira Koike, a crazy fan of Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan.
This mail is a short report about today's game and Hiram.
He did walk-off home run, game in Seibu-dome (Lions's home stadium), May 6.
At 9th bottm and two out, Hiram launched a big home run to the deep center. The ball went into the back screen and this ball finished the game.
Thanks, Akira
Here is a link to the online newspaper with a picture of Boca's team celebrating the accomplishment!
Thank you, Akira, for the great information and the pictures you sent of the online report and picture of where the homerun was hit!
May 4 and 5
First of all, let me say that it is hard to understand the box scores for Japanese baseball.
Here's what I do know: he is batting 9th in the lineup with a .356 average after Sunday's game.
In both Saturday (May 3) and Sunday's game (May 4) Hiram has hit the ball. On Sunday Hiram hit a solo homerun, I think his 6th this season.
I wish I knew more about his defense and what kind of hits he's getting.
The Lions remain in first place in the Pacific League .
This is Boca's name written in Japanese: ボカチカ
May 2
The Lions continue their winning streak with a score of 5 to 0 against the Marines.
Hiram is hittless in the game with one strike out - bringing his average to .333.
The Lions remain in 1st place in the Pacific League with a 20 and 12 record with one tie. (Interesting statistic, eh?)
May 1
The Seibu Lions continue in first place in the Pacific League - Hiram continues to add an exclamation to his return by going 4 for 4 and scoring 3 runs. The Lions win 5 to 4 in 9 innings.
Hiram is now batting .361.
April 27
After a stint with the Seibu Lion's minor league team in Tokyo, Hiram rejoins the Lions in dramatic fashion. On Saturday, April 26, Hiram helps to lead the Lions to a 10 to 8 victory over the Buffaloes. Hiram went 2-4 batting in 2 RBI's.
On Sunday, April 27, Hiram once again makes his presence known by going 3 for 4 - the Lions win 10 to 3.
Hiram's batting average climbs to .320.
Yaaa
March 30, 2008
The Lions beat the Soft Bank Hawks - 5 to 1.
Hiram hits his first homerun of the season, I think it was a three run shot.
When the stats are posted on an English, online newspaper, I'll confirm this information.
The Lions have now won their last two games.
Japantimes.co.jp - March 31
Lions 5, Hawks 1
At Seibu Dome, Hiroyuki Nakajima, Hiram Bocachica and Toru Hosokawa each homered against rookie Shota Oba as Seibu beat Softbank.
Nakajima led off the fourth inning with a drive to the stands in right followed by newcomer Bocachica's three-run blast with one out and a solo shot by Toru Hosokawa, giving Seibu a 5-0 lead.
Matt Kinney (1-1) allowed one unearned run and three singles, striking out nine with no walks, in seven sharp innings to earn his first win in Japan.
Oba (1-1), who threw a complete-game shutout in his first pro start last Sunday, was saddled with the loss.
March 2008
Seibu Lion's schedule - Click here!
Link to Boca's information - ボカチカ
February 22, 2008
Mark Abbott travels to Japan to attend Spring Training.
His reports will be posted soon!
January 29
Hiram makes the headlines in Japan.
(Basic translation of the article:)
Today, the entry interview of the new foreigner players were carried out in a/the baseball team press room. I like baseball very much, said Mr. Bocachica. I play each game to win because I like winning.
January 28, 2008
Boca leaves for his new baseball career in Japan today. Spring training begins soon! Watch here for news about this exciting new player with the Seibu Lions!
December 4, 2007
Hiram gives back to baseball while preparing for playing baseball in Japan. Read about it!
December 3, 2007
Article on JapanToday.com