Wu Ming-hung Teams Up with Huang Tzu-peng After Long Absence, Hung I-chung Praises: Led Pitcher Well

Taipei, May 3rd (CNA) - The CPBL TSG Hawks' starting battery of pitcher Huang Tzu-peng and catcher Wu Ming-hung, reuniting after about 10 years, led their team to victory yesterday. Manager Hung I-chung today praised Wu Ming-hung for leading the pitcher very well, also emphasizing that for a catcher, defense is particularly more important than offense.

The Hawks faced the CTBC Brothers yesterday at the Taipei Dome. Sidearm pitcher Huang Tzu-peng started, paired with Wu Ming-hung, a catcher one year his junior from Chinese Culture University. Huang Tzu-peng delivered a quality start with 7 scoreless innings, helping the team clinch a 2-0 victory. Huang Tzu-peng also earned his first personal win at the Taipei Dome.

Huang Tzu-peng and Wu Ming-hung reunited on the Hawks team. Wu Ming-hung said before yesterday's game that when Huang Tzu-peng first threw in the bullpen after joining the Hawks, he felt Huang Tzu-peng's ball quality and control had improved several levels. After yesterday's game, Huang Tzu-peng also proactively mentioned that this game was very meaningful to both him and Wu Ming-hung, and that he saw Wu Ming-hung working hard and earning his opportunity.

Wu Ming-hung not only performed well behind the plate yesterday but also hit a single in the 3rd inning, scoring the Hawks' first run. Hawks manager Hung I-chung said in a pre-game media interview today that although Wu Ming-hung hit a single, he had two rather wild swings in later at-bats. However, Hung still praised Wu Ming-hung, saying he led the pitcher very well yesterday.

Hung I-chung was also a catcher during his playing career. He stated that catcher is a very special position, where defense is more important than offense. When asked if pitchers tend to prefer specific catchers, Hung I-chung said that pitcher-catcher pairings indeed have habits. If a pitcher makes a request, the coaching staff tries to accommodate it, as the ball is in the pitcher's hands, but generally, few pitchers proactively make such requests. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei)