Taiwan Steel Hawks Defeat Rakuten Monkeys 4-1 In CPBL Regular Season Match
Hou Chun leads Hawks to victory with quality start while Zhang Zhao-Yin makes career debut.
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The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) continued its regular season action with the Taiwan Steel Hawks claiming a 4-1 victory over the Rakuten Monkeys in Game 055 on April 24, 2025.
The Taiwan Steel Hawks secured the win thanks to several standout performances. Hou Chun earned MVP honors, delivering seven innings of quality starting pitching that set the tone for the Hawks’ victory. The strong start from Hou proved crucial in containing the Monkeys’ offense throughout the game.
Ji Qi-Ran contributed the game-winning hit, providing the offensive spark the Hawks needed to pull ahead. Meanwhile, reliever Zhang Cheng-En pitched effectively in relief, throwing one scoreless inning to help maintain the Hawks’ advantage.
The victory was sealed when Lin Shi-Xiang successfully took the mound in the ninth inning, closing out the game and securing the win for the Taiwan Steel Hawks.
For the Rakuten Monkeys, the game featured a significant milestone despite the loss. Zhang Zhao-Yin made his career debut, marking an important moment for both the player and the organization as they continue to develop new talent in the league.
This game comes just a day after an action-packed April 23 that saw three games played across the league. In those contests, the Wei Chuan Dragons defeated the Fubon Guardians 6-1, the Uni-Lions overcame the Brothers 3-2, and the Rakuten Monkeys shut out the Taiwan Steel Hawks 6-0 in a complete reversal of fortunes from today’s result.
The Monkeys had enjoyed success the previous day behind pitcher Wei Neng-Di, who threw seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts in that contest. Lin Zi-Wei also contributed with two RBIs to help the Monkeys to victory on April 23.
The Chinese Professional Baseball League, founded in 1989, is Taiwan’s top-tier professional baseball league. Currently consisting of six teams, the CPBL has developed into a significant sporting institution in Taiwan over its 36-year history.
The league’s 2025 season opened with considerable fanfare, featuring the Uni-Lions facing the Brothers at the Taipei Dome. The CPBL continues to build on its momentum from previous seasons, with teams showcasing both established veterans and promising newcomers.
Recent milestones in the league include Chen Zi-Hao reaching 1,000 career hits on April 20, becoming the 32nd player in league history to achieve this feat. At just 29 years and 265 days old, Chen accomplished this milestone after 1,055 games and 3,488 at-bats, with a career batting average of .287 and 132 home runs.
The CPBL remains committed to growing baseball in Taiwan, with regular broadcast partnerships ensuring fans can follow all the action throughout the season. As the 2025 campaign progresses, teams continue to battle for position in what promises to be an exciting year for Taiwanese professional baseball.
With today’s victory, the Taiwan Steel Hawks demonstrate they remain a competitive force in the league, while the Rakuten Monkeys will look to bounce back in their upcoming games.
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