Chen Chih-hong’s walk-off single to deep-right scored the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth as the Brother Elephants overcame a two-run deficit to defeat the Uni-President Lions 3-2 at the Taipei Municipal Baseball Stadium in Tianmu last night.
Trailing 0-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth against Lions closer Lin Cheng-fong, the men in their familiar golden uniforms managed to place runners on second and third with one out, courtesy of a fielding error by the Lions shortstop that allowed the leadoff man to reach base and a single by Chou Si-chi to set up Wang Sheng-wei’s game-tying two-run double.
After Wang took third on a daring steal following his clutch-double, Lin was able to strike out the next batter before Chen got a hold of a fastball up the middle and drove it to deep-right for the game-winner.
“Well, I knew I had to make contact in order to give us a chance for the win and I’m glad it worked out in our favor,” Chen said after the game after being soaked by his teammates in the post-game celebration.
The three-run ninth by the Elephants spoiled what would have been win No. 6 for Lions starter Luther Hackman, who tossed seven brilliant innings of two-hit ball despite pitching with a sore foot, to put his team in great position to win their second straight.
Instead, it was the Elephants who had the last laugh as they avenged a 3-2 loss in extra-innings on Friday night with the same score the next day to even the series at one win apiece before tonight’s series finale.
Picking up the win was Elephants starter Orlando Roman, who went the distance for a league-best fourth time this year. The American right-hander allowed a pair of runs on eight hits, while fanning seven and walking a pair.
Taking the tough loss in addition to suffering a blown save was Lin, who gave up three hits in the game-turning ninth, even though none of the three runs allowed were earned.
BEARS 4, BULLS 1
The La New Bears also avenged a tough 4-3 loss in extra-innings the night before with a 4-1 victory over the Sinon Bulls at the Yilan County Baseball Stadium in Luodong, Yilan County, last night to even their series against the first-half champs.
Starter Luis Villarreal allowed a lone run on seven hits in five-and-a-third innings of work for La New, before a stingy bullpen consisting of Tseng Jau-hao, Geng Bo-hsuen and Hsu Ming-jeh combined for three-and-two-thirds innings of shutout relief to preserve the win for Villarreal.
Sinon had two great scoring opportunities early in the game with two hits in the third and the fifth against Villarreal, but came up empty-handed on both occasions with a runner being tagged out at the plate to end the third and both of their hits in the fifth coming with a runner at first at best.
Today, the La New Bears play the Sinon Bulls at 5:05pm in Tianmu, while the Uni-President Lions battle the Brother Elephants at the same time in Sinjhuang.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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