Yueh Cheng-Hua's 3-Run Homer Leads Brothers to Comeback Win

(Central News Agency, reporter Su Chih-Yu, Taipei, 5th) In today's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) game, both "Cheng-Hua" players from the Rakuten Monkeys and CTBC Brothers hit home runs. Lin Cheng-Hua of the Monkeys hit a grand slam, giving his team a 5-run lead, but Yueh Cheng-Hua of the Brothers hit a 3-run homer to ignite a comeback, leading the Brothers to a 7-6 victory.

The Monkeys took a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning on a bases-loaded walk, followed by Lin Cheng-Hua's first career grand slam to make it 5-0. The Brothers responded in the bottom of the 4th with two runs on hits by Chen Jiu-Deng and Chang Shih-Lun.

The Monkeys added another run in the top of the 5th to lead 6-2 after five innings. However, in the bottom of the 6th with two outs and runners on first and second, Yueh Cheng-Hua hit a 3-run homer to cut the deficit to one. The Brothers then loaded the bases on two infield hits and a walk, and Chiang Kun-Yu tied the game with a single.

In the bottom of the 8th, Yueh Cheng-Hua started another rally with a single and advanced to second on an error. He moved to third on a groundout and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Hsu Chi-Hung.

This was the CTBC Brothers' 4th comeback win this season when trailing after five innings, and the largest deficit they have overcome (4 runs). Their previous three comebacks were from a maximum of 2 runs down.

The game was played at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium with intermittent rain. Brothers' starting pitcher Cheng Hao-Chun pitched 4 innings, allowing 6 runs, while Monkeys' starter Tyler Eppler pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 5 runs (2 earned). Neither pitcher factored in the decision. (Editor: Chen Jen-Hua) 1150605