The Top-ranked Uni-President Lions improved to a league-best 8-3 record with a close 5-4 victory over the Brother Elephants at the Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium last night thanks to a four-run first.
The defending champs found themselves in unfamiliar territory as they trailed the men in the golden uniforms 0-2 after the top of the first, with Huang Shih-hao’s bases-loaded single off Tsai Jing-hao driving home a pair of runs for the Elephants before the Lions offense even got to the plate.
However, the Elephants lead lasted less than an inning as the host Big Cats answered with a four-run first of their own, highlighted by a three-run home run by Chang “OEO” Tai-shan off Elephants starter Lin Yu-ching, to take a 4-2 lead in a fast start for both clubs.
Photo: Huang Chih-yuan, Taipei Times
The Big Cats managed to tack on their fifth run of the game in the third with a solo shot by Kuo Tai-chi to make it 5-2 before the Elephants countered with a two-run fourth on the strength of Wang Sheng-wei’s two-run double to make it a one-run game.
The slim margin proved to be the difference in the game as neither team scored again against the respective bullpen despite several close attempts.
The Elephants made things very interesting in the top of the ninth as they loaded up the bags against Lions closer Lin Yueh-ping with one out.
However, the veteran right-hander was able to save his best for last as he calmly struck out the Elephants’ Chang Chih-hao on a full-count before fielding a bunt perfectly on the ensuing play for the game-ending out.
Reliever Liao Wen-yang was credited with his first win of the year for tossing a perfect fifth and sixth, while the loss was charged against Elephants starter Lin even though only one of the five runs allowed by the rookie was earned.
MONKEYS 5, BULLS 4
The Lamigo Monkeys edged past the Sinon Bulls by the same 5-4 score at the Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium last night to keep pace with the Lions.
A shaky first by Bulls starter Lin Chi-wei in which the righty served up three runs on a walk, two singles, a throwing error and a wild pitch, spotted the Monkeys’ Ken Ray a generous 3-0 lead after one inning of play.
However, Ray would return the favor by allowing the Bulls to tie the game at 3-3 through the fourth before the offense knocked in the Monkeys’ fourth and fifth runs in the fifth and the seventh to put the Primates ahead for good.
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
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
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
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care