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10/14/2003 Archived Entry: "Taiwan Baseball News: Bulls Return the Favor in Game 2"
Bulls Return the Favor in Game 2
By Paul Huang
As if the teams had switched uniforms, Game 2 of the 2003 Taiwan Series in Kaohsiung on Sunday was the complete opposite of what had taken place in Game 1. Losing Game 1 in an embarrassing 0-2 one-hitter, the Sinon Bulls outplayed the defending champs, the Brother Elephants in every facet of the game, as the final score of 9-1 would indicate.
Bull starter Osvaldo Martinez of the Dominican Republic outpitched regular-season victory leader Yokota Hisanori of the Elephants as he allowed one run on three hits in seven innings, compared to Yokota・s six runs on four this in five innings.
Snapping his four-game losing streak against the Elephants, Martinez played to his regular-season strikeout leader form as he fanned four while walking none in seven strong innings.
：I am really glad most of my pitches hit the corners that I wanted. It・s critical to have such command of your pitches.； Martinez said after the game, acknowledging the fact that the Elephant hitters seldom miss pitches that catch too much of the plate.
Turning their anger into solid execution, the Bulls lineup went to work early against Yokota by pounding six runs in the first three frames, highlighted by All-star slugger Chang Tai-shan・s solo blast to left-center in the top of the second and first baseman Chueh Shu-mu・s two-run triple deep in the left-center gap in the top of the third.
Unlike its ten-hit effort in Game 1, the Elephant offense managed to collect three hits against Bull starter Osvaldo Martinez, before being downed by relievers Ho Chi-shien and Ramon Morel in two perfect innings.
The lone spotlight of the game came on slugger Peng Cheng-ming・s single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth to extend his record-setting postseason hitting-streak to 12 games. Peng would score on designated hitter Wang Chin-yun・s sacrifice fly to center in the same inning for the Elephants・ only run of the game, avoiding a shutout.
：It・s okay, he (Martinez) can・t be pitching in all of the games.； Elephant skipper Lin Yi-tseng said after the devastating loss, attempting to boost his troops・ confidence.
The Series will move to Taichung on Tuesday, as the Bulls play host for the first time in Game 3. Defending the home turf for the Bulls will be right-hander Tsai Chung-nan, whose recently-healed shoulder will be put to test. Standing in Tsai・s way will be ：Bull Killer； Wu Jung-yi of the Elephants. Wu holds a 4-0 record against the Elephants this year and is an amazing 7-0 against the Bulls dating back to last season.
