Base-running miscues that represented at least three potential runs for the La New Bears ultimately cost the league-leaders Sunday's game against the Chinatrust Whales at Tianmu in a 4-1 decision.
The loss not only denied the Bears the chance for a four-game series sweep of the Whales, it also ended their club-high winning streak at six games in the early going of the season.
Shih Chih-wei's leadoff single in the top of the third game was nullified when the La New third-year slugger caught dozing off in a pickoff attempt.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CHINATRUST WHALES
It was Shih's slight hesitation while attempting to stretch a leadoff double to deep-right into a triple in the top of the seventh was also nullified when the relay throw by the Whales defense just beat him to the bag at third with the Bears trailing 3-1.
To top it all, team icon Chen Chin-fong was gunned down at the plate on an infield bouncer by Chen Fong-min in a one-out, men on second and third situation in the top of the sixth, wasting a golden opportunity for the Bears to make it a big inning as they managed to score their only run of the game on three base hits.
Whales starter Kao Jien-san did not have his best stuff for the day, but he was able to get out of each jam with some help from his defense and the poor Bears base-running to earn his second win of the year.
The veteran right-hander for the Whales allowed a run on eight hits in five-plus innings, while fanning three and walking none.
Offensively for the Whales, designated hitter Tseng Han-chou's two-run homer off Bears rookie starter Tsai Ying-fong highlighted a three-run fourth for the Whales in a game they never trailed. First baseman Chen Jien-wei also belted a solo blast off Bears reliever Hsu Chih-hua for his first home run of the season.
Elephants 8, Bulls 3
The Brother Elephants salvaged a 2-2 series split against the Sinon Bulls with Sunday's 8-3 win over the defending champs in Kaohsiung.
After splitting the first two games in the early part of last week, the Elephants dropped Game 3 to the Bulls on Saturday in a 7-3 affair and were at risk of losing their first series of the season.
Starter Chuang Hong-liang teamed up with bullpen mate Chuang Wei-chuen for nine solid innings three-run ball, allowing three runs on nine hits in six-and-a-third innings and no runs on one hit in two-and-two-thirds innings, respectively.
An efficient 11-hit attack by the Elephants, powered by five extra-base hits, rang up eight runs.
Failure to come up with the clutch hits left the Bulls short on scoring as they stranded nine runners on a 10-hit effort that produced just three runs.
Chuang Hong-liang was credited with his first win of the season, while his counterpart fell to 0-2 for the year.
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