Taiwan Series G5: Monkeys 20 – Brothers 3
For a team that will change ownership next season, it was a perfect ending to wrapped their final season. On October 17, the Lamigo Monkeys defeated the Chinatrust Brothers in game five of the 2019 Taiwan Series and captured the Taiwan Series for a third consecutive season.
#Lamigo Monkeys have won the 2019 Taiwan Series. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/vwV9oKyvdi
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) October 18, 2019
Monkeys’ Scored 20 Runs on Brothers
“Destroyed” would be a better word to use to describe game five, as the Monkeys scored 20 runs in their 20-3 win over the Brothers. The Monkeys’ lineup flexed their muscles at the plate with five home runs and put a total of 21 hits.
The Brothers’ never had a chance to launch a counter-attack. Their starting pitcher Elih Villanueva gave up eight earned runs in just 0.2 innings of work. The Brothers went to their bullpen in the first inning with the hope to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, the Monkeys’ continued to tear the Brothers’ pitching apart.
[2019 Taiwan Series G5] #Lamigo Monkeys flexed their muscles at plate and launched 5 home runs in their 20-3 win over the Brothers. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/fkAUNDTrUT
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) October 18, 2019
With plenty of run supports, the Monkeys’ starting pitcher Michael Nix tossed six innings and gave up one earned runs on six hits while issued five strikeouts. Potential game six starting pitcher Radhames Liz came in the bottom of the ninth as the closer. Although Liz gave up two runs on three hits, he managed to secure the final three outs.
[2019 Taiwan Series G5] #Lamigo Monkeys' Michael Nix tossed 6 innings, allowing 1 earned run and struck out 5. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/HWVDGYEKyI
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) October 17, 2019
2019 Taiwan Series MVP: Lin Li
The Lamigo Monkeys’ infielder 林立 (Lin Li) was named the 2019 Taiwan Series MVP. In five games, Lin slashed .520/.556/1.000 with three home runs and 11 RBI across 25 at-bats.
With seven Taiwan Series Championships (2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019), the Lamigo Monkeys now tied for second in all-time CPBL record. The first place being the Uni-Lions with nine championships.
ラミゴモンキーズとして最後の台湾シリーズで台湾一になり、三連覇達成！みなさんの応援ありがとうございました！ pic.twitter.com/n4YeIvkonW
— ラミゴジャパン (@LamigoJapan) October 17, 2019
Notes and Highlights of Game 5
[2019 Taiwan Series G5] #Lamigo Monkeys' 林承飛 (Lin Cheng-Fei) makes a slick sliding play at short. #CPBL pic.twitter.com/S7rFGed5su
— CPBL STATS (@GOCPBL) October 18, 2019
The legend will be forever remembered. Cheng-Ming Peng（彭政閔）finished his final plate appearance in his illustrious 19-year career.#CPBL30 #TaiwanSeries #CTBros #CHIAllenge pic.twitter.com/TeIZQPrM6p
— CPBL 中華職棒 (@CPBL) October 17, 2019
Lamigo總冠軍 pic.twitter.com/MGLWf7b6PY
— もとき (@121Motoki) October 17, 2019
Michael Nix has had an interesting and, in its own way, successful career. He has never pitched in the MLB majors, but he’s still pitching effectively in the CPBL at age 36. He chief ability as a pitcher seems to be avoiding the home run ball, which is a good skill to have both in today’s pro baseball generally and in the hit-happy CPBL in particular.
Michael Nix got a bit of that Bryan Woodall thing going on. Just go out there to eat innings and get out using his 2-seam fastball and forkball.
Really good workhorse, very likely will return the next season.
One would think both Nix and Liz will be back in 2020, given the success Lamigo had again this season. Both pitched well enough to win a lot of games, given how many runs Lamigo’s offense scored.
Yeah, I think both will come back next year. But this depend whether Rakuten want to source their own foreign players or not.
You know, the whole being the new team and trying to impress everybody with their signing.
Even if Rakuten decide not to bring them back, I’m sure both players will get a contract with the other teams in the CPBL.