CPBL Taiwan Series Opener sells out as DePaula dominates and pair of solo HRs lift Brothers

CPBL Taiwan Series Opener sells out as DePaula dominates and pair of solo HRs lift Brothers
27/11/2021
The series opener was attended by a sold-out crowd of 20,000 fans, the most in COVID-19 era since the beginning of 2020.

TAICHUNG -- Overcoming the challenges presented by COVID-19 that caused the season to be suspended for almost two months in the first half season, the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) opened its Taiwan Series 2021 tonight, the latest in its history. It will also be the first Taiwan Series to be played in the month of December (Game 4).

During the pre-game ceremony, the league also revealed the newly designed Taiwan Series championship trophy, as it replaces the original trophy debuted with the inauguration of CPBL in 1990.

In Game 1, CTBC Brothers turned to their ace Jose DePaula (16-4, 1.77 ERA), the reigning 2020 CPBL MVP, while defending champions Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions countered with Brock Dykxhoorn (17-4, 1.83 ERA).

Both starters were dominating through the first six frames as DePaula threw six scoreless innings while allowing four hits with two walks, and Dykxhoorn also shut down the Brothers for six innings with five hits and four strikeouts.

The scoreless tie was broken in the bottom of the seventh when Brothers left fielder CHAN Tzu-Hsien sent the first pitch he saw from Dykxhoorn out of the park for the solo home run, which gave the Brothers a 1-0 lead. Second baseman YUEH Tung-Hua immediately followed with another solo shot to double the lead and knocking Dykxhoorn out of the game.

DePaula went on for a total of eight shutout innings, and Brothers reliever LEE Chen-Chang closed the game in the ninth to preserve the win for the Brothers, who take a 1-0 lead in the Series.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven Taiwan Series will feature the Lions’ Lisalverto Bonilla (2-2, 3.13 ERA) and Brothers southpaw LU Yen-Ching (2-3, 4.60 ERA).

Tonight’s game was attended by a sold-out crowd of 20,000 fans, the most in COVID-19 era since the beginning of 2020. In 2020 CPBL became the first professional baseball league to open the season in the world, and the league was able to complete the season without interruption while the highest capacity in the stadium was kept at 78% percent following recommendation of Central Epidemic Command Center.

The Chinese Professional Baseball League is an Associate Member of the WBSC.