MAJOR LEAGUES
Taiwanese left-handed pitcher Chen Wei-yin won his fifth consecutive game and his record-tying 12th game of the season on Friday and dedicated the victory to the people of his hometown, Greater Kaohsiung, which was rocked by explosions a day earlier.
“Unfortunately, back in my hometown, there was a terrible accident,” Chen told reporters through an interpreter. “So today, this win I would like to give out to my hometown’s people.”
Photo: AFP
“I would like to send out my best wishes to them and hope everybody is alright out there,” the 29-year-old said before taking questions after leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 2-1 win at home over the Seattle Mariners.
The blasts claimed 27 lives and injured another 284, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said. A gas leak in an underground pipeline is believed to be the cause.
Friday marked Chen’s second dominant start against Seattle in just over a week. In his outing on July 24, Chen pitched eight scoreless innings in a 4-0 win at Safeco Field.
Chen has won five straight outings — a new record for him — and matched his Major League high in victories in a single season. His record was 12-11 in 2012, when he made his debut in the Major Leagues after seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.
He had only seven wins last season, when he was on the disabled list for almost two months with an injury to his right oblique.
Chen thanked his teammates for doing a good job keeping the Orioles at the top of the American League East.
“I didn’t really do anything different than any previous year, but I think the biggest reason I can be on such a good streak is my teammates,” Chen said. “I think that’s the reason. It’s not me. It’s my teammates.”
He pitched 7-1/3 innings, striking out eight while walking only the last batter he faced. He allowed five hits and Seattle’s only run came in the fourth inning, when Kendry Morales hit an RBI double following a single by Robinson Cano.
Baltimore scored a run each in the third and sixth innings to give Chen the run support for the win. With almost two months left in the season, Chen has a good chance to improve his current 12-3 record.
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