Pitcher Shih-Peng Chen #81 pitching at the top of the 3rd inning. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
Fubon Guardians’ Chen Shih-Peng Throws Nearly Throws Perfect Game
Fubon Guardians’ lefty Chen Shih-Peng nearly missed a perfect game in a 2-0 win against the TSG Hawks on Sunday.
Chen struck out eight in 8.1 innings, losing his perfect game in the eighth and no-hitter in the ninth. He dominated Hawks hitters with a mix of multiple off-speed pitches and left to a standing ovation after recording one out in the ninth inning.
Chen’s perfect game was kept intact in the top of the fifth inning on a miraculous leaping catch by center fielder Shen Hao-Wei, who bashed into the wall to rob Hawks outfielder Steven Moya of an extra-base hit.
Uni Lions’ 1B Kao Kuo-Ching Plays Final Game in CPBL
On Sunday, Kao Kuo-Ching of the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions played the final game of his 20-year CPBL career in a 4-0 win against the CTBC Brothers.
In the eighth inning, Kao, 45, struck out in the final at-bat of his career but hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field in the second inning to extend the Lions’ lead to 2-0. After the game, Kao and his teammates danced, giving him one last chance to embrace the fans at Tainan Municipal Baseball Stadium in South District, Tainan, Taiwan.
Kao spent his entire career in the CBPL with the Lions, debuting as a rookie in 2004. He finished his career with a .300 batting average, 134 home runs, and 903 RBI. Kao was the 2007 CPBL MVP of the Year and a five-time Taiwan Series champion.
Former NPB Infielder Wu Nien-Ting to Enter 2024 CPBL Draft
According to CPBL Stats on X, former Saitama Seibu Lions infielder Wu Nien-Ting announced he will enter the 2024 CPBL draft.
Wu is Taiwanese but has yet to gain playing experience in the CPBL. He made his Nippon Professional Baseball debut in 2016 with the Lions and hit one home run with 11 RBI in 41 games for the club in 2023.
Wu is the son of former CPBL third baseman Wu Fu-Lien, who played in several international tournaments for the Chinese Taipei national team. The elder Wu played ten seasons in the CPBL and led the Chinatrust Brothers to the Taiwan Series in 2015 as a manager.
This Day in Taiwanese Baseball History
On May 30, 2013, EDA Rhinos designated hitter Manny Ramirez went 1-for-3 with an RBI in a 5-4 loss to the Brother Elephants.
Ramirez played only 49 games in the CPBL but fared rather well at 41 years old. The 12-time MLB All-Star and two-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox hit .352 with eight home runs and 43 RBI with the Rhinos.
The EDA Rhinos underwent a name change at the beginning of the 2017 season, becoming the Fubon Guardians.
CPBL Standings as of Thursday, May 30
