CPBL: CTBC Brothers fall to Rakuten Monkeys, hit fourth straight loss of season | Liberty Times Taiwan News | 2026-07-03 22:20:00 UTC | 01KWM6A2FH6JF6R6X3SC5HNJQT

The CTBC Brothers suffered a 3-5 defeat against the Rakuten Monkeys in their second-half opener, extending their losing streak to four games, a mark they've now hit for the third time this season. This loss also means they've lost three straight to the Monkeys and remain winless against them in their last four encounters.

Rakuten took an early lead in the first inning, with Lin Li sparking the offense with the team's first hit of the second half, a double that helped drive in three runs. The Brothers quickly responded, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first and tying the game in the third inning thanks to Yueh Cheng-Hua's first career inside-the-park home run.

However, Lin Li proved to be a thorn in the Brothers' side once again in the fifth inning. He hit a triple and was later driven in by Lin Hung-Yu's sacrifice fly, giving the Monkeys a 4-3 lead. Li Hsun-Chieh and Ma Chieh-Sen added another run in the sixth inning, extending Rakuten's advantage.

Rakuten's pitcher Weining-Di settled down after a shaky start, shutting down the Brothers' offense from the fourth inning onwards. He pitched a quality start, throwing 91 pitches over seven innings and allowing only three runs. Yueh Cheng-Hua's inside-the-park home run was the 49th in CPBL history and the fifth in the CTBC Brothers' franchise history.