The Brother Elephants salvaged a 2-2 series tie against the Sinon Bulls by winning both games of a double header in Tienmu Saturday. They won the day game 10-1, while gaining the winning edge in the night game 6-4.
Chen Guan-ren's pinch-hit infield single off Bulls starter Yang Jien-fu scored the first run in a three-run fifth that upped the Elephants lead to 5-1 before the Elephants erupted for five more runs in the sixth, highlighted by rookie slugger Chen Chih-hong's bases-loaded, three-run triple.
Making his first career start was regular Elephants set-up man Wu Bao-shien, who dodged several bullets in a shaky effort by getting the key outs when it counted.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SINON BULLS
He allowed the lone Bulls run on seven hits over five innings before reliever Wu Jung-yi came in to pitch four frames of two-hit ball to preserve the win.
Yang lasted six innings while surrendering five runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks.
Tsai "A-Bian" Fong-an's second-inning solo homer, his second of the season was initially thought to be a foul ball before he finally rounded the bases.
Elephants 6, Bulls 4
Chang Tai-shan waited only one day to take over the league's career home-run mark with his 163rd blast off Elephants starter Liu Jung-nan in the night game.
The historical homer came on the first pitch that the 11-year veteran saw in the top of the second inning, which he drove over the left-center wall to give the Bulls a quick 1-0 advantage.
Chang's solo shot must have done something to the Elephants because it triggered six straight runs over the next six innings for a comfortable 6-1 lead, capped by Tsai's two-run double in the bottom of the fourth off American righty Clint Weibl.
The Bulls' best scoring opportunity came in the top of the seventh inning when Liu allowed a leadoff single before walking the next two batters to load up the bases with no outs. But reliever Blas Cedeno managed to deny the Bulls any runs by inducing a ground out on the next play before getting Chang to hit into an inning-ending double play.
After cruising through a scoreless eighth, the Bulls threatened again in the ninth against Cedeno. Only this time, the Venezuelan right-hander could not keep the scoring gate shut, as the three singles by the Bulls and a defensive error on Tsai led to three last-inning runs by the Bulls.
But with the tying run on, Cedeno was able to field the comebacker by Su Jien-rong for the final out and his league-leading eighth save of the season.
Liu was credited with his second win of the season for tossing six innings of one-run ball, while Weibl suffered his first loss of the season.
Bears 7, Whales 0
La New Bears lefty Wu Si-yo improved to 3-0 for the year with seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball against the Chinatrust Whales before the bullpen held up in the final two frames to keep the 7-0 shutout intact in Kaohsiung Saturday night.
Outfielder Tsai Jien-wei's two-run line drive up the middle off Whales starter Du Chang-wei completed a three-run second before Wang Chih-chiang's two-run double staked the home Bears to a commanding 6-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
National League
Jose Reyes and Kaz Matsui each had run-scoring hits in another seventh-inning comeback and the New York Mets beat Atlanta 6-5 Saturday, putting the Braves nine games out in Major League Baseball's National League East Division for the first time since Aug. 11, 1993.
It was the fourth straight win for the Mets and fourth straight loss for the Braves, winners of 14 consecutive division titles.
The Mets, who wiped out a four-run Atlanta lead with a seventh-inning rally Friday night, were trailing 3-2 after Adam LaRoche homered for Atlanta in the top of the seventh.
Xavier Nady opened the bottom half with a single against Tim Hudson (2-3) and after Ramon Castro struck out, pinch-hitter Jose Valentin also singled. Reyes, who had five hits Friday night and went 3-for-5 Saturday, delivered an RBI single to tie it. Reyes took second when the throw to third got away from Chipper Jones.
Matsui followed with a two-run double into right field. Carlos Beltran, who homered for the second straight day, was walked intentionally and then walks to David Wright and Cliff Floyd forced in another run.
Dodgers 5, Brewers 4
At Los Angeles, Nomar Garciaparra hit a game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning for the second day in a row and also had a pair of run-scoring doubles, leading Los Angeles over Milwaukee.
Kenny Lofton doubled with one out in the ninth against Chris Demaria (0-1) and Garciaparra followed with an opposite-field single past first baseman Prince Fielder as Lofton scored without a throw to give the Dodgers consecutive home victories for the first time this season.
Danyz Baez (2-1) pitched one inning for the victory despite allowing the tying run in the top of the ninth for his third blown save in 11 chances.
American League
Javier Vazquez took a perfect game into the sixth inning and Tadahito Iguchi had four hits and scored three runs to lead Chicago over Kansas City 9-2.
Vazquez (4-1) kept the Royals off balance, lunging at sharp curves, to win his fourth straight start. He allowed two runs on four hits, struck out six -- all in the first five innings -- and did not walk a batter.
Jim Thome homered in his third straight game, connecting for a three-run shot in the fifth that made it 6-0. Slumping Brian Anderson homered leading off the third inning and had two hits in his first start since Tuesday.
A.J. Pierzynski had three hits and two RBIs as the White Sox won for the seventh time in nine games.
Royals starter Runelvys Hernandez (1-2) allowed six runs on nine hits in 4 2-3 innings.
Red Sox 9, Orioles 3
At Boston, Manny Ramirez homered, and he walked twice in Boston's five-run second inning.
Tim Wakefield (2-4) had lost three consecutive decisions, but his teammates eliminated the suspense early and sent Baltimore to its fourth straight loss -- and 11th in 14 games. The knuckleballer allowed three runs, seven hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out three, uncorked a wild pitch and hit a batter.
The Red Sox beat the Orioles for the 10th straight time.
Erik Bedard (4-2) gave up six runs -- five earned -- and seven hits in two innings for Baltimore. He struck out two and walked three.
Yankees 6, Rangers 1
At Arlington, Texas, Johnny Damon prevented runs with his play in center field and started New York's game-turning outburst with an infield single. Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer, Jason Giambi had a solo shot and manager Joe Torre got his 999th victory in 11 seasons with the Yankees.
With the game tied 1-1, Damon led off the sixth with a high chopper. Mark Teixeira fielded the ball behind first base in foul territory, then scooped it to Kameron Loe (1-3), who stepped on the bag almost simultaneously with Damon. Umpire Chad Fairchild called Damon safe.
After Damon moved to third on a stolen base and throwing error, he scored on Derek Jeter's single on the next pitch. Giambi drew another walk before A-Rod homered to left-center, his sixth, to give New York a 5-1 lead.
Shawn Chacon (4-1) pitched 6 1-3 innings to win his fourth straight start, this the first not to follow a Yankees loss.
Mariners 4, Indians 1
At Seattle, Joel Pineiro pitched eight strong innings for his second straight victory and Seattle beat Cleveland to snap a four-game losing streak.
Pineiro (4-2) allowed only four hits against the Indians, who came into the game leading the majors with an average of 6.6 runs per game and batting .311. The four hits equaled Cleveland's season low.
The 27-year-old Pineiro outpitched left-hander Cliff Lee (2-3), who was 5-0 in his career against Seattle. J.J. Putz pitched the ninth for his third save in four opportunities.
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