Taiwan Today

Taiwan-born pitcher Chen Wei-yin launched his career in U.S. Major League Baseball with a solid outing for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards April 10, giving up just 2 earned runs in 5 2-3 innings against the New York Yankees. The 26-year-old lefty got off to a rocky start when star shortstop Derek Jeter tagged him for a homer deep to center to lead off the game. Chen quickly settled down, however, keeping the Yankees off the scoreboard for five straight innings, including back-to-back three-up, three-down innings in the second and third. Baltimore’s offense provided ample support for Chen, with two runs in the bottom of the first and one run each in the fourth and fifth innings to give the Kaohsiung native a 4-1 cushion. Things began to unravel for Chen in the top of the sixth when Robinson Cano hit a single to right to lead off and Mark Teixeira followed with a single to center with one out. Chen then walked Curtis Granderson to load the bases, and Andruw Jones proceeded to bring Cano home on a sacrifice fly. After an error by Oriole third baseman Mark Reynolds allowed Teixeira to score, Brett Gardner singled to bring Granderson home and tie the game, at which point Chen was relieved by Matt Lindstrom. The Yankees went on to win 5-4 in 12 innings. Chen threw a total of 101 pitches, including 59 strikes. He struck out six batters, walked one and gave up seven hits and four runs, including two unearned runs. He relied heavily on his trademark four-seam fastball, using it for more than 60 percent of his pitches. The Baltimore crowd gave Chen a standing ovation as he walked to the dugout after being relieved. (SB-THN)