Teng Kai-wei earns first MLB win as Giants blank Nationals 5-0

San Francisco, Aug. 8 (CNA) After five games of frustration, Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威), the only Taiwanese pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB), finally secured his first career win Friday.

Teng, who entered in the second inning, shut out the Nationals over five innings, striking out four and allowing three hits, as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Washington Nationals 5-0 at home.

The victory was the first by a Taiwanese pitcher in the majors in 2,163 days.

His 64-pitch effort also helped the Giants snap an eight-game slide at Oracle Park to open a nine-game homestand. Their previous home win came on July 11.

Unlike his season debut a week ago, Teng served as a bulk-inning reliever Friday -- a role the Giants often used him in during the 2024 season after shaky starts by the rotation.

With more than a year gone since his last stint in the big leagues, the right-hander said he now feels more comfortable coming out of the bullpen while still approaching games with a starter's mindset.

Giants manager Bob Melvin said the reliever's role helped the 26-year-old stay calm.

"You get a little anxiety as a starter and have to sit down for an inning, and he looked like he was throwing strikes right away with his breaking ball and was using his fastball better today," Melvin was cited as saying by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Teng retired six straight batters to start his outing before allowing his first baserunner in the fourth, when James Wood doubled off the right-field wall.

His biggest jam came in the top of the fifth, when he loaded the bases with no outs on a leadoff walk, a flare, and a soft grounder.

But he escaped unscathed thanks to sharp defense: Rafael Devers stopped a grounder near first base and threw home for a forceout, and shortstop Willy Adames turned a double play on a hard grounder to end the inning.

Teng also credited pitching coach J.P. Martinez with helping him settle down in that moment. "He told me to take a deep breath and understand the situation. That helped me a lot."

He capped his outing with a seven-pitch sixth inning.

The game marked a major milestone in Teng's nascent MLB career and a leap forward from his previous outing, in which he threw 3 1/3 innings on 67 pitches and gave up five runs in a loss.

His ERA dropped to 5.40 after the game. The Giants sit at 59-57, third in the National League West.

The taste of victory came with a traditional beer shower -- one Teng admitted he wasn't fully prepared for.

"I couldn't even breathe or open my eyes, couldn't see what they poured on me. It just smelled stinky," he said.