Three games separate the four teams that are still in contention for the first-half title as they do battle in the remaining two weeks of play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League.
As of yesterday morning, defending champs, the Sinon Bulls, held a half-game edge in the standings over the second-placed Macoto Cobras, followed by the Brother Elephants (one game behind the Bulls) and the Chinatrust Whales (three games behind the Bulls).
The Whales have the toughest road ahead in the final five games of the first half, in that three of them will be against the red-hot Elephants, winners in four of their past five contests. In order to keep themselves in the running, the giant marine creatures basically need to run the table the rest of the way to assure themselves a chance to win the title.
PHOTO: SINON BULLS
As for the other three title contenders, the result in each of the four or five contests remaining in their schedule could mean the difference between the first-half title and "close, but no cigar" in a winners-take-all situation.
Wrap-Up
The Cobras bounced back strong from a disappointing winless week of play last week by taking two straight against the La New Bears earlier this week to keep themselves within striking distance of the league-leading Bulls.
PHOTO: SINON BULLS
Cobras 11, Bears 3
Tuesday night's 11-3 slaughter of the Bears at Hsinchu got the serpents off to a great start as a six-run third inning by the Cobras offense erased a 0-2 deficit and put the team up for good.
Converted starter Yang Chi-jia earned his first victory in over a year with a solid effort off the mound, allowing a pair of runs (both unearned) on six hits over seven innings of work. The former Taiwan Major League (TML) standout made the most out of a rare starting appearance from his usual reliever's role by getting ahead of the hitters early and often.
Offensively for the Cobras, the heart of the order, consisting of sluggers Hsieh Jia-shien, Wilton Veras and Mario Encarnacion, did most of the damage by knocking in five of the eleven runs in the game in a combined 5-for-11 night. Hsieh and Encarnacion each connected for a home run in the game to lead the powerful Cobras attack.
Troubled by nagging injuries throughout the season, Bears lefty starter Wu Si-yo did not have a strong game as he lasted only two-and-a-third innings, while yielding six runs on five hits and four issued walks.
Cobras 5, Bears 4
Wednesday's 5-4 decision in favor of the Cobras was a 3-all affair until Cobras center fielder Huang Gao-jung's two-out RBI single that put his team ahead 4-3.
The Cobras then added another run to their lead an inning later on cleanup man Wilton Veras' solo homer to make it 5-3.
Bears right fielder Wang Jung-wen pulled his club to within a run of the serpents in the eighth on a high bouncer off Cobras reliever Lee Ming-chin that scored the runner from third, but that was as close as the Bears would get, as Cobras closer Rene Miniel retired the final four batters he faced to preserve the 5-4 win.
Starter Hsu Chu-jien collected his fifth consecutive victory to up his winning total to a league-leading seven-game mark, while his counterpart Hsu Yu-wei dropped his third decision in four starts. His inability to keep the Cobras hitters from going deep against him (two of the seven hits he allowed went for homers) ultimately cost the second-year southpaw the game.
Upcoming Games
The Bulls can gain some ground over the Cobras and the Elephants in the standings this week by taking care of business in their three-game series against the President Lions.
Outfielder Tseng Hua-wei, whose killer bat had driven in five runs over the past four contests for the Bulls, could prove the crucial difference in the series as he provides the necessary firepower to jumpstart a Bulls attack that includes top-hitting shortstop Cheng Jau-han, home run threat Chang "Prince of the Forest" Tai-shan and veteran hitter Huang Chung-yi.
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