Chen Yung-chi’s sacrifice fly to center field in the ninth, which gave the Uni-President Lions a 5-4 win over the Brother Elephants in Hsinchu on Tuesday night, marked the latest clutch hitting that the shortstop has delivered for his new team.
The hero for Taiwan in nearly every international competition over the past eight years, -highlighted by Grand Slams against China and South Korea in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and the Intercontinental Baseball Cup and his multi-homer outings in the Asian Games in 2006 and last year, has finally joined a Taiwanese professional squad to play out the rest of his career in his homeland after spending seven seasons in the US minors with three different teams.
With a batting average of .343, three home runs and 28 RBIs, Chen’s arrival has undoubtedly been the main reason that the Lions have climbed out of the cellar of last year’s fourth-place finish with a title-contending squad that is 23-11-1 (through Tuesday) and in a share of the lead in the standings with the Lamigo Monkeys.
“I know that it’s been a bumpy ride for me over the years with injuries and everything, but I’m not going to let that bother me right now,” Chen said earlier in the -season, referring to his disappointing stint in the US, which was marred by a series of injuries that kept him from realizing his dream of playing in the Major Leagues.
He was well on his way to becoming the Seattle Mariners’ next great infielder at both second base and third base after a couple of great seasons with the Tacoma Rainiers (the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate) in 2006 and 2007. However, a shoulder injury that required surgery cut his 2007 season short and eventually ended his quest for the Majors as an injury to his right knee (2008) and left wrist (2009) followed.
Now that he has recovered from the injuries, Chen is looking to blossom in a Lions uniform, having signed a three-year contract for more than NT$11 million (US$384,500) after the Lions drafted him as the No. 1 overall pick.
His continued success will not only improve the level of play in the league, but also bring more fans to the ballpark in an era when local professional baseball is in desperate need of a clean-imaged icon after a slew of game-fixing scandals that has tarnished the game to the extent that its legitimacy has been questioned.
“I hope we can all have a clean and healthy environment [in which] to play this great game of baseball, because so much is at stake,” Chen said earlier in the season.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at