Print

Mail

wiki links

Whales squeak past Bulls 2-1

Sinon Bulls shortstop Cheng Jau-hang throws toward first base to get the hitter out after forcing out Wang Hsin-min, right, of the Chinatrust Whales. The Whales won the game played in Tienmu on Saturday 2-1. PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES

Wang Hsin-min's eighth-inning bloop single off reliever Chen Yang-kai with a runner on second drove in the go-ahead run for the Chinatrust Whales as they rallied from a late-game deficit to edge past the Sinon Bulls 2-1 in Tienmu on Saturday night.

After seven futile innings against the stellar pitching of Sinon starter Takekiyo Kouji and reliever Yu Wen-pin in a 1-0 game, the Whales offense finally came through with three clutch hits against the Bulls to win their second game in as many days.

Whales starter Tseng Jau-hao was on the verge of losing another quality start after an unearned run against the staff ace in the top of the third set his team back by a run in a tight 1-0 affair. But his patience with the late-blooming offense finally paid off this time to give Tseng his tenth win of the season with a three-hit gem.

Yu Hsien-ming's sacrifice-fly off Tseng in the top of the third knocked in teammate Yeh Jung-chang, who reached second on a throwing error by Whales third baseman Wu Hso-fang. Yeh then scored on a bunt by Cheng Jau-han for the Bulls' first run of the game.

Barry Bonds celebrates after hitting a fourth-inning solo home run against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

That was all the offense that either club managed to produce in the standoff between Tseng and his counterpart Takekiyo until the Whales' eighth-inning rally.

Shen Yu-jeh entered the game one out into the bottom of the ninth in relief of Tseng and induced two fly-ball outs to secure the victory for his team with his sixth save of the year.

The loss by the Bulls, coupled with the La New Bears win in Kaohsiung on the same night widened the gap between the top two squads in the latest standings by a full game, with the league-leading Bears enjoying a three-and-a-half game cushion over the second-place Bulls with less than 20 games remaining in the season.

Cobras 5, Bears 7

Four sixth-inning runs by the La New Bears broke open an otherwise close game against the Macoto Cobras, giving Bears lefty ace Wu Si-yo his 15th win of the season.

The battle between the two former Taiwan Major League teams was dead even at 2-all through the top of the fourth before Chen Fong-min's run-scoring liner up the middle in the bottom the fourth put the Bears up 3-2.

A four-run sixth gave the Bears a 7-2 lead before the Cobras connected for three runs over the final two innings as they went on to win 7-5.

Wu allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out 10 Cobras over six solid innings for the win, beating Macoto starter Robert Averett, whose Taiwan debut was far from acceptable. The newly acquired American right-hander gave up five runs, all earned, on eight hits, including a leadoff homer to Bears slugger Chen Chin-fong in the bottom of the second for his 18th of the year.

Offensively for the Cobras, team captain Chiou Chang-rong's 3-for-5 night with three RBIs and a home run off Wu was the lone spotlight on the night. Both of the runs surrendered by Wu in the game came by ways of Chiou; the first via a second-inning solo blast and the second on a two-out single in the top of the fourth.

The win by Wu tied him with teammate Kenny Rayborn of the US for the league's lead for wins as the emerging righty-lefty combo has accounted for 30 of the Bears' 51 victories thus far.

American League

Justin Morneau hit a three-run homer, Torii Hunter also connected and the Minnesota Twins beat the New York Yankees 6-1 in a game called during the eighth inning because of rain on Saturday.

Scott Baker (4-7) shut down New York's loaded lineup for the second time this season, pitching the Twins to only their second victory in their past 14 games at Yankee Stadium. Baker allowed only two hits in five innings.

Minnesota, which remains a half-game behind Chicago in the American League wild-card race, had lost four of five. But after scoring no more than three runs in their previous five games, the Twins outhit New York 10-2 and got effective work from a pair of relievers.

The Yankees remained eight games ahead of second-place Boston in the AL East.

After scoring no more than three runs in their previous five games, the Twins outhit New York 10-2.

Rookie Jeff Karstens (1-1) impressed in his Yankee Stadium debut, giving up only two runs and six hits in seven innings.

Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1

At Boston, A.J. Burnett pitched a three-hit complete game and Frank Catalanotto had an RBI double to lift Toronto. Catalanotto had a pair of doubles and Aaron Hill homered for Toronto, which snapped a five-game losing streak. It was Boston's 13th loss in 17 games.

Orioles 6, Athletics 5

At Oakland, California, Miguel Tejada and Chris Gomez drove in two runs apiece and Baltimore ended Oakland's 10-game home winning streak. Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis also drove in runs for the Orioles. Adam Loewen (5-4) improved to 3-0 in his last four starts.

White Sox 5, Royals 3

At Kansas City, Missouri, Mark Buehrle pitched six solid innings and Joe Crede drove in two runs to help Chicago get the win over Kansas City. Buehrle improved to 3-1 in his last four starts after a run in which he went 0-6 with two no-decisions in his previous eight outings.

Angels 7, Tigers 2, 10 innings

At Detroit, Chone Figgins' bases-loaded triple keyed a five-run 10th inning that gave Los Angeles a victory over Detroit.

Indians 6, Rangers 5

At Arlington, Texas, Kevin Kouzmanoff hit the first major league pitch he faced for a grand slam and Cleveland extended its winning streak to five games with a win over Texas.

Mariners 4, Devil Rays 3

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Baek Cha-seung allowed one run over 6 2-3 innings as Seattle overcame a triple play to stop a 12-game road losing streak. Baek (2-0) gave up six hits, one walk and had four strikeouts. J.J. Putz pitched two innings to earn his 29th save, but made things interesting by giving up a two-out solo homer to Ben Zobrist in the ninth.

National League

Barry Bonds hit his 728th career homer, Ray Durham and Moises Alou connected on back-to-back shots in the sixth and Matt Cain pitched 7 2-3 innings to lead the San Francisco Giants over the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on Saturday.

Bonds, booed as he came to bat each time, drove Sean Marshall's 3-2 pitch into the right-field seats with two outs in the fourth to give the Giants a 1-0 lead. Bonds' fourth homer in the last 10 games was his 20th of the season.

Facing Marshall (5-9) again in the sixth, Bonds walked with two outs and Durham followed with a two-run shot to left, his 21st of the season. One pitch later, Alou hit another drive to the left-field seats, and the Giants led 4-1.

Derrek Lee hit his first homer since June off Giants reliever Armando Benitez in the ninth, and Mike Stanton relieved to get his fourth save in six chances.

Cain (11-9) yielded four hits, walked two and struck out seven.

Braves 4, Phillies 3, 1st game

Phillies 16, Braves 4, 2nd game

At Philadelphia, Mike Lieberthal homered and drove in four runs, helping Philadelphia split a doubleheader with Atlanta. In the opener, Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer off Arthur Rhodes in the ninth inning to lead Atlanta to a victory.

Nationals 7, Diamondbacks 6, 1st

Nationals 4, Diamondbacks 3, 2nD

At Washington, Austin Kearns and Ryan Zimmerman homered to lead Washington over Livan Hernandez and Arizona, completing a sweep of the day-night doubleheader. The Nationals rallied in both games to extend their winning streak over the Diamondbacks at RFK Stadium to five.

Mets 4, Astros 2

At Houston, Cliff Floyd had a double and two RBIs in his return from the disabled list to back rookie John Maine's strong pitching and New York beat Houston.

Pirates 1, Cardinals 0

At St. Louis, Shawn Chacon and two relievers combined on an eight-hitter and Ronny Paulino hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to give Pittsburgh a victory over St. Louis.

Marlins 9, Brewers 6, 10 innings

At Milwaukee, Alfredo Amezaga singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and Florida extended Milwaukee's losing streak to a season-high nine games.

Padres 7, Reds 1

At San Diego, Jake Peavy threw a two-hitter, matching his career-best, and struck out 14 as San Diego trounced Cincinnati.

Dodgers 14, Rockies 5

At Los Angeles, Nomar Garciaparra hit a three-run homer and a three-run double to help Brad Penny become the NL's first 15-game winner, and the Dodgers hammered the Rockies. J.D. Drew and rookie James Loney also homered for the NL West leaders, who have a four-game lead on second-place San Diego. The Dodgers have won seven straight and are 26-7 since a 1-13 stretch following the All-Star break.
This story has been viewed 1412 times.