Baseball a family affair for Chens

Chen Lien-hung reigned supreme at the annual CPBL All-Star Home-run Derby on Saturday. PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

The Chen family was showered with many happy news over the past weekend in Tainan. First, was the notice from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization on Friday regarding younger son Chen Chin-feng's (陳金峰) promotion to the Major League.

Then came the winner's trophy from the annual Chinese Professional Baseball League's (CPBL) All-Star Homerun Derby Contest on Saturday afternoon for older son Chen Lien-hung's (陳連宏) awesome display of power.

Then Lien-hung won the game-MVP honor at the All-Star game for his 3-for-3 night after he contributed the winning hit for his team.

"I hope he [Chen Chin-feng] stays there for a bit longer this time," Chen Lien-hung told the Taipei Times before the game regarding younger brother Chin-feng's second promotion to the Major League.

Chen went on to hit eight homers in the preliminary round of the Homerun Derby to put himself in the finals with Gida slugger Hsieh Jia-shian (謝佳賢), Agan cleanup man Chen Kai-fa (陳該發) and defending champ Huang Chung-yi (黃忠義) of the Sinon Bulls.

Hsieh and Chen Kai-fa were unable to go deep in the final round, making Huang's lone homer in five attempts the mark to beat for Chen Lien-hung.

With two easy swings, Chen Lien-hung effortlessly blasted the first two pitches he saw over the fence to win the Homerun Derby title this year, his first in seven seasons.

As for the All-Star game, Chen was a perfect 3-for-3 for the night, including knocking home the game-winner in the bottom of the third with a soft single up the middle.

"This was my day today," Chen said.

Brother Elephant hitting machine Peng Cheng-ming (彭政閔) turned a few heads before the game even began as he flashed some talents off the field in beating Team White captain Huang Kang-ling (黃甘霖) of the Lions for the title at the beer-drinking contest.

The league's Offensive Player of the Month in May amazed those looking on with his beer-chugging ability.

The All-Star game began on Saturday with Taichung City Mayor Hu Chih-chiang (胡志強), Sinon Bulls owner Yang Tien-fa (楊天發), and official game sponsor Osim Group's top man, Chen Chuan-yi (陳全義), tossing out the first pitch.

Lion rookie sensation Pan Wei-luen (潘威倫) did not disappoint his fans in his first All-Star appearance in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,500.

The starter for Team White held the Team Red batters hitless for the first two innings before being replaced by fellow southpaw Hsieh Cheng-hsun (謝承勳) of the Chinatrust Whales.

Offensively for Team White, starting shortstop Cheng Chang-ming (鄭昌明) of the Whales followed his outstanding defensive grab that prevented the first Team Red run from scoring in the top of the third inning with a double off Team Red starter Tsai Chung-nan (蔡仲南) in the bottom of the third inning.

Cheng would score the first run of the game later in the same inning on Chen Lien-hung's single.

Also starring for Team White was catcher Tseng Chih-tseng (曾智偵) of the Lions, who went 2-3 for the game.

The 44-year-old catcher came out of retirement after having coached the Lions in the previous four seasons to become the oldest player in the All-Star lineup.

Kuo Yuan-chih (郭源治) of the former Weichuan Dragons had been the oldest player to be named in the All-Star game at the age of 42.

Despite the 3-0 score in favor of Team White, the Team Red offense was busy throughout the game, collecting 10 hits off five different Team White pitchers. Always missing critical hits with men in scoring position, Team Red stranded a total of 11 runners on base.

The best scoring opportunity for Team Red came in the top of the seventh with one out and men at the corners. Much to the dismay of the local crowd, shortstop Cheng Jau-han (鄭兆行) and second baseman Huang Chung-yi of the Bulls failed to connect as they struck out and flied out respectively, to retire Team Red in the seventh.

Left-hander Hsieh Cheng-hsun of the Whales got the win for Team White in his relief appearance, while Team Red starter Tsai Chung-nan of the Bulls took the loss.