The CTBC Brothers yesterday scored five early runs on their way to a 6-2 victory over the Wei Chuan Dragons in Game 1 of the CPBL first-round playoffs.
After a scoreless first inning, the Brothers’ offense dealt a heavy blow to the Dragons, with the 15,000-strong crowd of mostly CTBC supporters erupting in delight at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium.
American right-handed pitcher Jake Brigham was rocked by the Brothers, who scored two hits and a walk, loading the bases. Outfielder Lin Shu-yi then drove one run in with a single, and CTBC scored another run on a fielder’s choice to take a 2-0 lead.
Photo: Liao Yao-tung, Taipei Times
CTBC second baseman Yueh Tung-hua walloped a double, pushing home another run. One batter later, shortstop Chiang Kun-yu hit a single to right field, getting two more runs in, as the home side went ahead by five runs.
Brigham was pulled with two outs. Lo Kuo-hua took over and ended the inning with a flyout.
Both sides scored a run in the fifth inning, and Wei Chuan star center fielder Kuo Tien-hsin smashed a solo homer in the ninth inning taking the final score to 6-2.
CTBC’s Dominican lefty pitcher Jose de Paula sailed through nine innings on seven strikeouts, yielding only three hits, with no walks, and was named Most Valuable Player.
Wei Chuan must win Game 2 at home at Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei today to stay alive in the series. The game starts at 5pm.
The CPBL’s 2022 regular season wrapped up on Wednesday with the hosts, the Fubon Guardians, prevailing 2-1 over the Uni-President Lions.
Both sides were tied at one apiece until Fubon third baseman Hsin Yuan-hsu drove in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the 11th inning to take the win.
With each team playing 120 games, the Rakuten Monkeys placed first after accumulating 70 wins, 46 losses and four draws. They gain an automatic berth into the championship finals known as the Taiwan Series, which start this weekend.
CTBC took second place, just one game behind the leaders with 69 wins, 47 losses and four draws, so they have a home field advantage in the first-round playoffs.
Wei Chuan placed third chalking up 57 wins, 58 losses and five draws, and gaining a berth in the playoffs against CTBC.
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