CPBL: Jake Dahlberg's strong start and 5-run 6th inning lead Rakuten Monkeys to 6-1 win over TSG Hawks

The Rakuten Monkeys secured their fourth consecutive victory, defeating the TSG Hawks 6-1, with a dominant performance from pitcher Jake Dahlberg and a crucial five-run fifth inning. This win places the Monkeys alone at the top of the second half of the season standings with a 5-1 record.

Dahlberg was the star on the mound, pitching seven innings and allowing just one unearned run. His strong outing provided a solid foundation for the Monkeys' offense, which struggled in the early innings.

“

The team lineup is more complete than in the first half. Although we have won four in a row and are temporarily leading the second half, there is still a long way to go in the season.

The game was tied 0-1 after five innings, with the Monkeys having committed three errors in the first two innings. However, the team exploded in the bottom of the fifth. A series of consecutive hits by Chen Chen-Wei, Tao Wei-Sheng, and Lin Hung-Yu gave the Monkeys a 2-1 lead. Lin Tzu-Wei added another run with a sacrifice fly, and two outs later, Liang Chia-Jung reached base on an error. Song Chia-Hsiang, Ma Chieh-Sen, and Lin Li then delivered consecutive hits, bringing in two more runs to extend the lead to 5-1.

Monkeys' manager Tseng Hao-Chu acknowledged the team's strong performance but cautioned that the season is long. "The team lineup is more complete than in the first half. Although we have won four in a row and are temporarily leading the second half, there is still a long way to go in the season," Tseng said. He noted that while the team had scoring opportunities in the early innings, they failed to capitalize. "The five runs in the sixth inning were something we rarely did in the first half. Recently, the lineup has found its consistency, and some are regaining the feeling of the past 'violent ape' lineup. I hope the players can continue this offensive connection while the current situation is good."

“

The five runs in the sixth inning were something we rarely did in the first half. Recently, the lineup has found its consistency, and some are regaining the feeling of the past 'violent ape' lineup. I hope the players can continue this offensive connection while the current situation is good.