Dragons seize 2-0 advantage in Taiwan Series

Wei Chuan Dragons outfielder Zeng Sheng-an last night hit a three-run homer to power his team to a 3-1 win over the CTBC Brothers at Taipei Dome, giving the Dragons a 2-0 lead in the Chinese Professional Baseball League’s (CPBL) Taiwan Series.

With the Dragons trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the 20-year-old Zeng, who joined the team last season and was making his Taiwan Series debut, drove a fastball from Brothers starter Felix Pena over the right-field wall.

Zeng became the second-youngest player in CPBL history to hit a home run in the Taiwan Series.

The Wei Chuan Dragons’ Liu Chi-hung hits against the CTBC Brothers during Game 1 of the CPBL Taiwan Series at the Taipei Dome on Saturday.

Photo: CNA

The homer came after he committed a fielding error in the top of the inning that ultimately allowed the Brothers to take a 1-0 lead.

In a post-game interview, Zeng said that after making a mistake in the top of the inning, his coaches and veteran teammates told him to put it behind him and focus on what he could do next to help the team. He was glad he was able to bounce back in his next at-bat, he said.

Pena was later pulled from the mound in the same inning after being hit by a batted ball. He gave up four hits and three walks, and struck out three batters over 4.2 innings.

Dragons starter Cristopher Mercedes pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out three.

The Dragons’ second straight win puts them in a strong position to claim their sixth CPBL championship.

In the CPBL’s 37-year history, teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven championship series have gone on to win the title 89.5 percent of the time.

After a day off today, the teams are to meet again tomorrow at Taipei Dome for Game 3.

Meanwhile, the CTBC Brothers have condemned threats posted on social media against Venezuelan pitcher Mario Sanchez on Saturday and yesterday.

Sanchez began receiving threatening messages on his social media accounts on Saturday following the loss.

He declined interview requests yesterday, but posted a statement on Instagram.

In the statement, Sanchez said he was willing to put up with complaints about his performance and accept criticism directed at him. However, he said his family was innocent and urged fans and the public not to do anything that would harm them.

Sanchez’s wife, Fabiola San Juan Galue, also responded on Instagram.

Writing in English, she said the couple had recently had a miscarriage and had begun receiving “vulgar and violent” threats on the post they originally shared to celebrate the pregnancy.

The Brothers also expressed support for the pitcher.

Manager Keiichi Hirano said that rather than focusing on negative comments online, the team would be best served by investing in the fans who stick with it through thick and thin.

In a statement, the Brothers said the team and Sanchez’s agency had jointly filed a police report over the threats.

The team said it would pursue all necessary legal action to protect its players and the team’s reputation.