A tie in baseball?

On June 27th, the Hiroshima Carp played against the Hanshin Tigers at Undo koen (park) in Fukui city. I don't like baseball-- hell, I barely know the rules. Until I came to Japan I couldn't tell you how many innings were in a game. Japan ,however, loves baseball. Most of the time when turn on my TV (which I rarely do, except if it's to watch a DVD/video) something baseball related is on. It's either a game, news about the game results, or a TV drama were the ators are watching or playing baseball. I just can't escape it. So, I figured- I might as well see the baseball game. I probably wouldn't bother going to a major stadium to see a game-- but since the teams were coming to the inaka, why not!
It was the first time I ever watched a live baseball game and a first time to watch an entire game. I've caught glimpses on TV, in Japan as well as NJ, but never actually watched an entire game. It was kinda fun, although there was little action. Most of the players struck out at bat- and there were a grand total of 4 runs, two per team. The fun part was not so much watching the game, but being at a live event at an outdoor event, drinking beer, and chatting with friends.
It reminded me alot of WSOU's 15th anniversery, when the college radio station had a massive concert at the Newark stadium where the semi-pro Bear's play. That was the only other time I was inside a baseball stadium, and although there was also drinking and talkin with friend and other WSOU staff (I worked at the station a year) there was no baseball-- instead there were about 20 or 30 bands playing. Damn, that was an awesome day-- Anyway....
Baseball. The highlight of the night was after the 7th inning when tons of Hanshin Tiger fans blew up these long ballons and then let them go. It was pretty cool, but getting hit by a falling balloon would not be. The thought of a slobbery tip were someone had their mouth to fill the balloon with air was pretty gross. Luckly, none of the balloons fell on me. =) So that was good.
At the end of the 9th inning, it was a tie so the game went into the 10th inning. And then into the 11th, followed by a 12th inning-- dragging the game out. At the end of the 12th inning the game was still tied at 2-2. I figured the 13th inning would start-- but no. Instead the teams started to pack up, and the workers went out to clean up the field. What the?? Why bother having three more innings after the 9th- just to end on a tie? If the game was gonna end this way-- they should have stopped it at after the 9th. Whatever-- I don't know baseball, but if you ask me, it was a crappy way to finish the game.