Two teams set CPBL record with leadoff homers in first inning; Fubon defeats Rakuten

Central News Agency (Taipei, May 23) - Fubon Guardians' Chang Yu-cheng and Rakuten Monkeys' Chen Chen-wei set a record today, both hitting home runs in their first at-bats of the first inning, a first in the 37-year history of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. Chang Yu-cheng hit another homer in the top of the 5th, helping the Guardians secure a 3-1 victory. Chang, starting as the leadoff hitter, hit a solo shot in the top of the 1st to give Fubon the lead, marking his first career leadoff home run. In the bottom of the 1st, Rakuten's leadoff hitter Chen Chen-wei also hit a solo homer to tie the game. This is the first time in CPBL history that both teams hit leadoff home runs in the same game. Fubon capitalized on hits and errors in the 3rd inning, with Lin Tse-pin driving in the go-ahead run. Chang hit his second homer of the game in the 5th, extending the lead. With these two homers, Chang reached 6 for the season, tying for the home run lead with Uni-President Lions' Su Chih-chieh and Wei Chuan Dragons' Chu Yu-hsien. Fubon starter Shunsuke Suzuki allowed 7 hits over 7 innings, giving up only 1 run from the first-inning homer, while striking out 4 to earn his 4th win of the season. Rakuten starter Tyler Eppler pitched a quality start with 3 runs (2 earned) over 6 innings but took the loss.