Taiwanese shortstop Cheng Tsung-che on Friday made history for the Boston Red Sox’s Triple A affiliate, hitting the Worcester Red Sox’s first cycle, while netting two runs, as they beat fellow Taiwan teammate Stuart Fairchild’s Columbus Clippers.
The 24-year-old former Pittsburgh Pirates prospect went 4-4, completing a full cycle, starting with a triple in the second inning off Ryan Webb in the WooSox’s 9-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians’ Triple A affiliate. He scored in the same inning after teammate Vinny Capra, a fellow former Pirate, grounded out.
The Pingtung County native followed that up with a walk in the third, an RBI double in the fourth, a solo home run in the sixth and a bunt for a single in the eighth, putting him ninth in batting in the International League.
Photo: AP
Taiwanese-American right fielder Fairchild struck out twice and was walked in the eighth, while former rival-turned-teammate Travis Bazzana, who helped Australia defeat Taiwan in the World Baseball Classic, had a single for Columbus.
Cheng and Fairchild both had clutch homers in Taiwan’s emotional 5-4 victory over South Korea during last month’s World Baseball Classic.
On Saturday, Cheng, who was leading the team in home runs after their first nine games, was unable to match the feat, going 0-4 in a 7-0 loss to the Clippers.
Elsewhere on Saturday, it was a tough day for Taiwanese players in the minors, with third baseman Lee Hao-yu striking out and getting walked during his three appearances at the plate for the Detroit Tigers’ Toledo Mud Hens. They ultimately blanked the Minnesota Twins’ St Paul Saints 3-0.
Starting for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Reno Aces, Lin Yu-min gave up two runs and walked six batters for a second consecutive outing, while striking out just two in 2.2 innings pitched against the Los Angeles Angels’ Salt Lake Bees. The Aces still won 8-3.
In Double-A, Chen Po-yu gave up five runs starting for the Pirates’ Altoona Curve. He walked one and struck out one in his 3.1 innings, losing 9-8 to the San Francisco Giants’ Richmond Flying Squirrels in 10 innings.
In High-A, Chang Hung-leng was pulled in the first inning in his start for the Pirates’ Greensboro Grasshoppers after giving up six runs off four hits with two walks to the Houston Astros’ Asheville Tourists. The Grasshoppers held on for an 11-6 victory.
However, Taiwanese-American left fielder Jonathon Long — who was set to play for Taiwan last month, but was sidelined by injury — continued to play well for the Chicago Cubs’ Triple A affiliate, the Iowa Cubs. He hit an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning, while the Cubs bested the Kansas City Royals’ Omaha Storm Chasers 7-3.
Additional reporting by CNA
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