CPBL: Li Dong-ming Pitches Career-High 8 Innings in Victory

Fubon Guardians pitcher Li Dong-ming delivered a stellar performance, throwing a career-high 8 innings and conceding just one run to secure a 3-1 victory against the Rakuten Monkeys. This dominant outing earned him the Most Valuable Player award for the game and his ninth win of the season, placing him atop the league's win list.

Li's impressive streak continues as he extended his personal winning streak to nine consecutive games. He is now poised to make history in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) next week, as he aims to become only the fifth local pitcher to record 10 wins in the first half of a season, joining an elite group that includes Chen Yi-hsin, Kuo Chin-hsing, Hsieh Chang-hsing, and Lin Chen-hua.

During the game, Li allowed only two hits. The Rakuten Monkeys' sole run came in the bottom of the third inning, resulting from a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a balk, and a sacrifice fly. Li acknowledged the play, stating, "The balk occurred when I was retreating my foot while checking first base. It was a coordination issue with Dai Pei-feng and Fan Kuo-chen. With a runner on third, I should have let Ma Chieh-sen hit a less effective fly ball, but it was hit to the outfield. Baseball truly requires attention to every detail; I learned a lot this inning."

“

The balk occurred when I was retreating my foot while checking first base. It was a coordination issue with Dai Pei-feng and Fan Kuo-chen. With a runner on third, I should have let Ma Chieh-sen hit a less effective fly ball, but it was hit to the outfield. Baseball truly requires attention to every detail; I learned a lot this inning.

Despite throwing 8 innings for the first time in his career, Li expressed that he didn't feel particularly different at the moment. He views his ability to pitch deep into games as a benchmark for future efforts. When asked by the coaching staff after the eighth inning if he wanted to continue, Li expressed interest in a complete game, but the coaches opted to end his outing conservatively, considering his upcoming starts and the short rest period. "I told the coach I was only in the 80s (pitches), but he replied, 'No, you're already at 90,' and that if there were any issues, it would exceed 100," Li recounted.

Head coach Gotoh Kōson also considered letting Li pitch the ninth inning but ultimately decided against it due to pitch count, rest days, and the fact that Li would have another start before the end of the first half. "If he hadn't given up any runs, I would have let him go for the complete game; he probably could have managed it," Gotoh commented.

“

I told the coach I was only in the 80s (pitches), but he replied, 'No, you're already at 90,' and that if there were any issues, it would exceed 100.