There is around 1/3 of the first phase to go, and we are still no closer to finding a clear leader.  Every team has had their issues for whatever reason with the consensus being that the league is weaker than last year, this week saw the league get even tighter.

Fubon Guardians

I start with the Fubon Guardians who had the most impressive week of all five teams. That deadly combination of Henry Sosa and Mike Loree is starting to work out, or at least it did on 2 of the 3 game nights this week.

On Tuesday, Sosa had impressive game giving up 6H, 1R as Fubon cruised to an 11-1 win over Uni Lions in Tainan. Mike Loree was even better, giving up 2 hits in a 107 pitch shut-out, final score: Guardians 1 Lions 0.

Onto the weekend and Fubon won 2 out of 3 at home to Lamigo Monkeys. They lead 6-4 early on Friday evening and easily won, 9-4. The series was won on Saturday partly thanks to another great pitching display… from Chen Shih Peng who gave up 5H, 1R over 8 innings. The hitters did their job, as Fubon won 7-1.

What is this? Henry Sosa has had a poor game? He didn’t last the first six innings as he gave 9H, 6 runs (4 earned) as Lamigo Monkeys became the first team to give Sosa bit of a beating. Fubon falling to a 6-5 home defeat. In his previous 6 games, Sosa had only given up… 6 runs! A blip, but a fantastic week for the Guardians.

Fubon move to 19-19-1, a 0.500 record.

Lamigo Monkeys

Last year’s champions has obviously quite a bit with the loss of superstar Wang Po Jung but maybe Argentine Roger Bernadina can plug the gap in centre field.

It was a good start to the week for Lamigo with back to back away wins in Taichung. Wednesday’s affair was a close one. Michael Nix had another shutout giving up just 4H and 0R in 6 innings. Lamigo took a 2-0 lead into the 9th, went 3-0 up and despite Lin Bai You giving up 2 runs with 0 outs, Wu Cheng Che came in to end the inning without further damage, final score, 3-2.

Thursday win was a bit more convincing. Lamigo took apart Brothers Tsai Chi Che in the first 0.2 innings, scoring 6 runs and ended up winning 7-0.

The weekend saw a series loss away to Fubon Guardians with Radhames Liz taking his 4th loss of the season on Friday. The fireball throwing starter topped out at an insane 157kph (97.5mph) but gave up 11H, 8R in a 9-4 loss. Saturday, rookie Wang Wei Chun had another iffy game, giving up 8H, 7R in the first 3 innings as Lamigo struggled with the bat, going down 7-1 to the Guardians. Sunday was more impressive, scoring 6 runs off Henry Sosa in a 6-5 win.

Lamigo ended the week 3-2, and stand top with a 21-18-1 record.

Uni Lions

A mixed week for the Lions too as they came up against Henry Sosa and Mike Loree on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday saw Sosa come to Tainan but the eyes were on Jiang Chen Yen who had pitched a great game against Sosa back in March. Sadly the crafty lefty gave up 10H, 8R in 5 innings as Fubon romped to an 11-1 win. Wednesday, the Lions had no answer to Mike Loree making just 2 hits but on a positive note, despite taking the loss Shih Tzu Chien only gave up 5H, 1R.

To the weekend and Chinatrust Brothers were in town. Ryan Verdugo pitched fairly well 6H, 4R (3 earned) but took the loss for the Lions, Brothers winning 5-2.

The week ended on a happy note with two wins. Saturday’s win was strange. Wang Yu Pu ony lasted 0.2 innings giving up 2 hits, 3 walks before being replaced by Austin Bibens Dirkx. Then the Lions only made 6 hits but managed to score 10 runs, Brothers making a season worst 4 errors and gave up 8 walks, the final score Brothers 6 Lions 10. Lions fans are beginning to question, after another poor start on the mound, whether it’s worth continuing to keep experimenting and failing with Wang starting games.

Sunday and 37 year old Pan starter Wei Lun picked up win five for the season in a 6-2 Lions victory.

Despite huge injury issues, Uni Lions are 20-22-1 for the season and only 2.5 games off the lead with 17 to go.

Chinatrust Brothers

Brothers had the worst week of all four sides, going 1-4. It started with back to back home defeats to Lamigo Monkeys. On Wednesday, Mitch Lively pitched well giving up 5H and 2R but it was enough for the loss, despite a 9th inning comeback. Final score, Monkeys 3 Brothers 2.

Thursday was a night to forget for Tsai Chi Che, giving up  4H, 6R, 3BB before being just 0.2 innings into the game. Brothers hitters would not recover the game, striking out 13 times as they made just 5 hits in a 7-0 loss.

The bright night of the week was Friday, pinch hitter Chen Tzu Hao hit a 3 run blast to push Brothers to a 5-2 win over the Lions. It was not the start of a glorious weekend though despite huge away support down in Tainan.

Brothers practically gifted both bases and runs to the Lions, giving up 8 walks and 4 errors and despite taking a 3-0 lead early on, fell to a 10-6 defeat.

Sunday saw Brothers start rookie pitcher Wang Yi Kai but he quickly lost his eye for the strike zone. He gave up 2 hits, 3 runs and 7 walks before being replaced in the 3rd inning. Tsai Chi Che gave up 3 more hits, 3 more runs and 2 more walks as Brothers fell to a 6-2 defeat.

They are now 20-21-1, 2 games off the top with 18 games to go,

This week’s fixtures

Chinatrust Brothers v Lamigo Monkeys @ Taoyuan on Tues/Wed at 6:35pm

Uni Lions v Fubon Guardians @ Xinzhuang on Wed/Thurs at 6:35pm

Fubon Guardians v Lamigo Monkeys @ Taoyuan on Fri at 6:35pm, Sat/Sun at 5:05pm

Uni Lions v Chinatrust Brothers @ Taichung on Fri at 6:35pm, Sat/Sun at 5:05pm