Taiwan Sports Wrap

Tsao takes bow

Taiwanese pitcher Tsao Chin-hui (曹錦輝) made his first Major League Baseball appearance of the season for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday when he pitched 1.1 scoreless innings during the team's 2-7 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Tsao replaced Dodgers starter Derek Low with two outs and runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth. He induced a ground ball from catcher Yorvit Torrealba to end the inning, then retired three of the four Rockies he faced in the sixth, striking out two and walking one without giving up a hit.

Tsao has spent most of the season in the minor leagues, but has been called up to fill in for starter Jason Schmidt, who went on the disabled list on Tuesday with a shoulder inflamation. Tsao was also called up last week as a temporary replacement, but was sent back to the minors without getting a chance to pitch. But with Schmidt out for at least two weeks Tsao may get an extended opportunity.

Uni Lions suspend staff

In Taiwanese baseball, the Uni Lions have responded to their dreadful 4-13 start to the season by suspending manager Ohashi Yutaka, hitting and bench coach Inoue Osamu and pitching coach Saka Kojiro for one week. Fielding coach Luo Kuo-chang (羅國璋), will take charge although it is not certain whether the trio will return after the suspension. Minor league pitching coach step up while Luo and defensive coach Lu Wen-sheng (呂文生) will serve as hitting coaches.

Chan wins in Alabama

Chan Yung-jan (詹詠然) won her first round match at the International Tennis Federation tournament in Dothan, Alabama on Wednesday, defeating Yurika Sema of Japan 6-3, 6-2. Chan, ranked fifth in the tournament, is next scheduled to play Irena Pavlovic of France. Chuang Chia-jung (莊佳容) lost her first round singles match, but she and Chan defeated Czech pair Eva Hrdinova and Michaela Pastikova 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of women's doubles, in which they are seeded first.

Badminton cup starts today

The 36th Chingchen Badminton Cup (清晨盃羽球錦標賽) begins three days of competition at the Taipei Gymnasium today, with a senior's tournament to follow at the same location from April 24 through April 29.

Academy holding tourney

On Sunday, April 22, The Taichung International Soccer Academy will be hosting a club tournament for youth teams from all across Taiwan. The one-day tournament will be held at Morrison Academy. There will be four divisions for players under 13, under 11, under 9 and under 7.