Huang Tzu-peng sets domestic scoreless innings record in Hawks rout

Taipei, July 16 (CNA) TSG Hawks starter Huang Tzu-peng (黃子鵬) set a new record for consecutive scoreless innings by a domestic pitcher in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) on Wednesday as his team routed the Fubon Guardians 12-0 in Taitung County.

Huang threw six scoreless innings to extend his streak to 33 2/3 innings, surpassing the previous domestic record of 33 innings set by former Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions pitcher Pan Wei-lun (潘威倫).

Huang's streak is the fourth-longest in CPBL history, behind former Brother Elephants pitcher Jonathan Hurst's 34 1/3 innings, Hawks teammate David Buchanan's 35 innings and former Lions pitcher Michael Garcia's league-record 45 innings.

On Wednesday, Huang allowed Guardians runners to reach scoring position in the second, third and sixth innings but escaped each threat unscathed.

The 32-year-old right-hander needed just 79 pitches to complete six innings, allowing five hits and one walk, while striking out one.

The performance lowered Huang's earned run average to 1.83, the third-best in the CPBL, behind the Wei Chuan Dragons' John Gant at 1.41 and Hawks teammate Eric Stout at 1.67.

Huang has not allowed a run in five consecutive starts since June 7 against the Dragons.

Over his last eight starts since May 2, he has given up only two earned runs across 55 1/3 innings for a 0.33 ERA, the best mark in the league over that span.

The streak also includes a 93-pitch "Maddux" -- a complete game shutout under 100 pitches -- against the Guardians on June 13, the first complete-game shutout of Huang's career in which he did not issue a walk or hit a batter.

The Hawks backed Huang with 23 hits Wednesday, one short of the franchise record.

Tseng Tzu-yu (曾子祐) recorded a career-high five hits, raising his batting average to .316 and overtaking the Guardians' Yu Chang (張育成), who is batting .315, for the league lead.

It was the fourth time the Hawks have scored at least 10 runs in a game this season, with all four coming against the Guardians, who have now lost six of their last seven games.

Wednesday's contest concluded a two-game series in Taitung County. The Guardians won Tuesday's opener 2-0, leaving the teams with one victory apiece.