CPBL
Strong pitching by a pair of young stars in Chang Hsien-chih (
Australian slugger Thomas Brice gave the serpents a quick 1-0 in the bottom of the first with a two-out, RBI single to right off Lions starter Pan "Du Du" Wei-luen (
PHOTO: WANG I-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
On the board
Trailing 2-0 and down to their final out of the game, the visiting Lions finally got on the board to avoid the shutout in the top of the ninth when first baseman Kao Guo-ching (
But that was as close as the Lions would get, as catcher Kao Chih-kang (
PHOTO: WANG I-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chang entered the game in the third in relief of Cobras starter Chen Jia-hong (
Using five different hurlers in the game, the Macoto bullpen held together for five shutout frames before yielding the lone run of the game in the ninth to truly make this one a team-effort win.
Pan was dealt his third loss of the season despite holding the opposition to just two runs on eight hits while going the distance for the Lions.? The complete-game loss was the third of his career, as the staff ace (8-3) fell victim to a lack of run support from an offense that consistently ranked in the bottom half of the league over the past six seasons.
Lions 1, Cobras 2
Lin En-yu made it look easy against the Lions in the nightcap of the double-header on Saturday with a four-hit gem in seven magnificent innings before fellow setup man Lee Ming-jin (
The serpents drew first blood again in this game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, thanks to back-to-back singles by cleanup man Hsieh "The Ugly" Jia-shien (謝佳賢) and Brice that put two runners in scoring position against Lions starter Tsao Jung-yang (曹竣揚) with only one out to set up outfielders Chou Si-chi's (周思齊) sacrifice-fly and a defensive error by Lions shortstop Ugueto on a routine grounder that scored the runner from third.
The second Cobras run proved to be the difference in the game as the Lions pitching allowed just three more runners to reach the rest of the way in the classic pitchers' duel that went the Cobras' way, as neither team was able to produce much offense in the game.
Breakthrough
Down by a pair, the Lions were able to break through against Lin's stellar pitching in the top of the seventh when Kao's liner to the left-center gap dropped for a two-out double to score the runner all the way from first to cut the Cobras' lead to 2-1.
That was all the Lions attack could muster as Lee and Lira retired the side in order during the eighth and ninth to secure the eleventh win of the season for Lin, tying him with La New greats Kenny Rayborn and Wu Si-yo (
Tagged with the loss was Lions starter Tsao, who matched Lin pitch for pitch with 6-2/3 innings of two-run balls (only one earned) on four hits and five strikeouts to fall to a 2-4 record for the year.
American League
Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams each doubled twice and drove in three runs, leading Mike Mussina and the New York Yankees to a 14-3 blowout of the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.
Andy Phillips homered and knocked in four runs -- all after New York chased struggling lefty Mark Buehrle (9-7) in the fourth.
Jason Giambi hit a two-run single, leadoff batter Johnny Damon scored three times and the Yankees took advantage of some shoddy Chicago defense to build an 8-0 lead for Mussina (11-3).
Bubba Crosby hit his first home run since a game-winning shot last September against Baltimore.
New York, which took the series opener 6-5 on Friday, has won six of seven. The World Series champion White Sox have dropped four of five to the Red Sox and Yankees in a stretch that spans the All-Star break.
Jim Thome sent his 31st homer rocketing into the upper deck, trimming Chicago's deficit to 8-3 in the fifth.
Pitching on nine days' rest, Mussina yielded three runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.
Orioles 8, Rangers 1
At Baltimore, Erik Bedard allowed one unearned run in seven innings to win his sixth straight start, and Baltimore ended its scoring slump at the expense of Texas rookie John Rheinecker.
Blue Jays 7, Mariners 6, 14 inns
At Toronto, Bengie Molina's RBI single in the 14th inning lifted Toronto over Seattle.
Twins 6, Indians 2
At Minneapolis, Johan Santana rebounded from two poor starts by scattering five hits in seven innings and Minnesota defeated Cleveland.
Tigers 6, Royals
At Detroit, Justin Verlander allowed two hits in seven innings and Placido Polanco drove in three runs to help Detroit beat Kansas City again.
Red Sox 7, Athletics
At Boston, Curt Schilling allowed two hits and struck out nine in seven innings and David Ortiz snapped out of an RBI slump with his major league-leading 32nd homer and a two-run triple for Boston.
Angels 9, Devil Rays 2
At Anaheim, California, Vladimir Guerrero recorded his 1,000th career RBI in the first inning before hitting his fourth career grand slam and Los Angeles capitalized on two controversial rulings by first base umpire Bill Welke to beat Tampa Bay.
National League
Scott Rolen's RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning gave the St Louis Cardinals a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, their fourth extra-inning triumph during a season-best six-game winning streak.
Albert Pujols hit his National League-leading 31st home run and Jeff Suppan worked seven strong innings for the Cardinals. St Louis had three straight extra-inning victories, totaling 36 innings, before Chris Carpenter's two-hitter in a 5-0 victory on Friday night.
J.D. Drew had three hits and an RBI for the Dodgers, who have lost four of five.
David Eckstein reached on an infield single against Danys Baez (5-5) with one out in the 10th. The Dodgers had him doubled up when pinch-hitter John Rodriguez lined out but shortstop Rafael Furcal's throw to first was wild for an error that allowed the runner to advance.
Pujols was intentionally walked before Rolen blooped a single into shallow left-center field to drive in the winning run. Braden Looper (6-1) had two strikeouts and a walk in two scoreless innings for his second victory in three games.
Cubs 9, Mets 2
At Chicago, Carlos Zambrano allowed three hits in six innings to win his sixth straight decision and Chicago used a five-run sixth to send Tom Glavine to his first loss since April 24.
Reds 3, Rockies 2
At Cincinnati, Chris Denorfia singled past shortstop Clint Barmes with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning, rallying Cincinnati past slumping Colorado.
Astros 12, Marlins 0
At Miami, Andy Pettitte struck out 10 in seven sharp innings, Adam Everett had a career-high four hits and Houston routed Florida.
Pirates 7, Nationals 6
At Pittsburgh, Ronny Paulino hit a game-winning single in the ninth inning and Pittsburgh earned consecutive wins for the first time in more than a month.
Braves 11, Padres 3
At San Diego, Andruw Jones hit the longest homer ever at Petco Park, a 453-foot (140-meter) shot that went deep into the second deck in left-center field, and three other Atlanta players connected in a rout of NL West-leading San Diego.
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