The Uni-President Lions defeated the Brother Elephants in the final game of the best-of-seven Taiwan Series yesterday, clinching the title for the third consecutive year.
A capacity crowd at Tainan Municipal Stadium watched the game, which followed Saturday’s electrifying 17 inning game — the longest in CPBL history.
Fans who lined up for hours yesterday to snatch one of the 1,300 remaining tickets witnessed a contest well worth the wait.
PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
The defending champion Lions took an early 3-0 lead over the Elephants by the third inning on two singles by Kao Chih-kan (高志綱) and Yang Tung-yi (陽東益). Although Lions star player Chen Lien-hung (陳連宏) shocked fans by appearing to limp early in the inning, he managed to score the first run of the game.
The Brother Elephants later showed they could keep up, coming right back with two runs in the fifth, but they were unable to come up with any other runs on a stable performance by Lions starter Luther Hackman (海克曼), who managed three strikeouts in six innings.
The crowd came alive in the seventh inning when Lions batter Kao Kuo-ching (高國慶) pulled off a stellar performance, sending two more runners home to put the Lions up 5-2. That seemed to seal the game, although Yang Tung-yi was later sent off the field following an argument with the umpire.
Any hopes of a dramatic comeback by the Elephants were dashed when star player Chu Hung-sen (朱鴻森) was also thrown off the field following an altercation with the umpire early in the eighth. Chu, who had stepped away from the plate thinking the umpire had given him a time-out, managed to spring back into position to connect with Hackman’s pitch, but he popped off an easy fly-ball.
Chu confronted the umpire about the missed call and — not liking what he heard — barged into the umpire with his shoulder and was promptly sent out of the game.
This is the Lions’ seventh championship, giving them the most titles in the league ahead of the Elephants, who have six. Lion starter Hackmann received the season’s MVP award after his second consecutive win.
“I would like to thank all the fans that came out today to support our team,” head coach Lu Wen-sheng (呂文生) said. “Because of your unwavering support, we will continue to play our best.”
“The Elephants were worthy opponents, but I’m really happy we still pulled off a victory,” Kao Kuo-ching said.
“It feels real good,” Hackmann added.
Customers at Uni-President’s 7-Elevens will also have a reason to smile: The chain is planning discounts and promotions to celebrate the win over the next three days.
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