So, I obviously have written this a full week late which makes it all completely irrelevant but for the sake of continuity, I have written it anyway!

The big news from this week was the resignation of Lions coach Huang Kan Lin and Lamigo Monkeys clinching the first phase.

Uni Lions

The half season ended with two defeats for the Lions and Huang Kan Lin’s resignation. On Tuesday 25th June, it started so well for the Tainan side as they took an early 4-0 lead and Jiang Chen-Yen gave up just 2H, 1R in the opening 6. On came the bullpen and 3 runs in the 8th put Lamigo 5-4 ahead. No Lions reply and this clinched the first half-season for the Monkeys.

On Wednesday saw defeat number 7 in a row also against Lamigo Monkeys. The Lions lead 3-2 after 6 innings and yet again the bullpen surrendered the lead, 3 runs in the 8th made 5-3 Monkeys, a run back but then 2 more in the 9th, final score: Lamigo 7-4 Lions.

Uni Lions finished the phase with a disappointing 25-1-34 record.

Lamigo Monkeys

5 games ahead with 5 to go, 1 win was that Lamigo Monkeys needed and they ended with three.

They started with a pair of midweek wins in Tainan against Uni Lions. On Tuesday Lin Li hit a two-run, game-winning shot to put the Monkeys 5-4 ahead in the 8th and that was the first half season won. They continued their ruthless run against Uni Lions on Wednesday, ending 15-5 against them with a 7-4 win.

So, to Xinzhuang for a Thursday to Saturday series against Fubon Guardians and Mike Loree got the better of Su Chun-Yu on Thursday evening. Su who has a questionable 1-8 record in the 2nd team gave up 5 hits, 8 runs and 2 walks in the opening two innings. Lamigo trailed 9-0 after 2 innings and despite attempting a comeback, fell short and lost 10-7.

Friday saw Wang Yi Cheng take on Ryan Bollinger, and it was once again, the foreign pitcher taking the win. Wang gave up 12 hits and 5 runs as Fubon came away 5-2 winners.

Saturday saw Hong Sheng Xin handed the ball to make just his 9th start in 130 appearances. He gave up a respectable 6H, 3R inside 5 innings. Lamigo scored regularly after breaking a 3-3 tie in the 4th and ran out 11-4 winners.

Lamigo ended the half-season as champions with a dominant 35-1-24 record, 3.5 ahead of Fubon Guardians.

Fubon Guardians

Fubon only had a tiny chance of winning the phase and the chance was ended on Tuesday evening courtesy of a 4-4 tie at Chinatrust Brothers and Lamigo Monkeys winning. Fubon trailed 4-2 after 2 innings, levelled it in the 8th but neither side could score after that in a game that went on for nearly 5 hours.

4 further games for Fubon after that including a 3 game home series v Lamigo Monkeys, not it mattered for much. Mike Loree got a routine win, as Fubon’s batters took Lamigo pitcher Su Chun-Yu apart in the opening 2 innings. Final score, Monkeys 7-10 Guardians.

On Friday Ryan Bollinger had another impressive start and victory, as Fubon won 5-2. Saturday was the low point of this 3 game series, Chen Shih Peng struggled early on giving up 6H, 6R (4ER) and Lamigo Monkeys ended up recording an 11-4 win.

To Taichung to end the week, and phase. This game had been abandoned with the score 3-2 Fubon the previous weekend. Fubon hit 5 runs in the 7th inning of the continuation of this game and ended phase one with a 9-5 victory. You Ting Wai pitched the bulk of it and got the 2nd win of his career.

Fubon Guardians ended the half season with a 31-2-27 record, 3.5 behind Lamigo Monkeys.

Chinatrust Brothers

Like for Uni Lions, Chinatrust Brothers first phase was not one to write home about. They ended this with a tie and a defeat. Tuesday’s game saw them take an early 4-2 lead against Fubon Guardians then proceeded to go scoreless for the next 10 innings, Fubon levelled in the 8th and it ended 4-4.

Sunday’s game v Fubon saw Liao Yi Zhong continue pitching after the game had been abandoned a week ago. He would take the loss giving up 6H, 4R but Huang En Tzu gave up 5H, 5R and 1BB in a disastrous 7th inning when Fubon were just 4-2 ahead. A rough end to the half season for Brothers and they ended the phase with a 26-2-32 record.

This week’s fixtures (already played)

Uni Lions v Lamigo Monkeys @ Taoyuan – Friday at 6:35, Sat/Sun at 5:05pm

Chinatrust Brothers v Fubon Guardians @ Xinzhuang – Friday at 6:35, Sat/Sun at 5:05pm

 

I will be bringing up week 15’s report later today.