Taiwan’s Uni-President Lions ended up on the losing side of a hard fought pitcher’s duel in yesterday’s Championship game of the Konami Cup Asia Series, falling 1-0 to Japanese NPB champions the Seibu Lions.
First baseman Ishii Yoshihito scored all the way from first base — the game’s only run — on outfielder Satoh Tomoaki’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning, with right fielder Pan Wu-hsiung’s throw arriving too late.
Uni-President star pitcher Pan Wu-hsiung — pitching after just a day’s rest — found himself a hard luck losing pitcher for the second time in the series, taking an arguably undeserved loss on Satoh’s walk-off single despite pitching effectively in relief.
Pan and the Lions fell victim to what appeared to be a blown call with the bases empty and two outs, as the left-handed Ishii appeared to commit on a check swing with two strikes.
The third base umpire ruled he didn’t go around, however, and the pitch was ruled a ball, allowing Ishii to take first on a free pass and eventually score the game winner on following hitter Satoh’s single.
Seibu reliever Okamoto Shinya picked up the win in relief of a strong performance by Wakui Hideaki, who fanned 10 Lions hitters over six-and-two-third shutout innings. Relievers Ohnuma Koji and Hoshino Tomoki helped preserve the shutout.
Uni-President Lions starter Giancarlo Alvarado — locked in a pitchers duel with Wakui for most of the game — pitched six efficient shutout innings in a losing cause, striking out one with no walks.
The Uni-President Lions now return to Taiwan and face an uncertain future as the league has been reduced to just four teams in the wake of a gambling scandal that forced the closure of two clubs, the Chinatrust Whales and dMedia T-Rex.
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