BASEBALL/Teng throws 2 1/3 scoreless innings in return from injured list

Taipei, July 20 (CNA) Houston Astros right-hander Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威), the only Taiwanese pitcher currently on a Major League Baseball (MLB) active roster, threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen Sunday in his first appearance since returning from the injured list, as Houston lost 5-2 to the Baltimore Orioles.

Teng, activated from the 15-day injured list Friday after recovering from a right knee sprain, entered with two outs in the top of the sixth and Houston trailing 5-1.

The 27-year-old initially struggled with his command, issuing a walk and hitting the next batter to load the bases. He escaped without allowing a run by striking out Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso.

Teng retired Baltimore in order in the seventh, recording two strikeouts and inducing a flyout.

He returned for the eighth and allowed a leadoff single before inducing a double play with a four-seam fastball. Teng then hit another batter but retired the next hitter to complete his outing.

Teng allowed one hit and one walk, hit two batters and struck out three. His 2 1/3 innings were the most thrown by an Astros reliever in the game, and his ERA fell from 4.36 to 4.21.

The Astros were unable to erase the deficit, with the Orioles completing a three-game sweep in Houston.

Teng began the season in Houston's bullpen before moving into the starting rotation in mid-May.

In his final start before the injury, against the Detroit Tigers on June 27, he surrendered five runs, four earned, on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.

Houston initially optioned him to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys the following day, but later rescinded the move and placed him on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 28 because of the knee sprain.

Teng made five starts in June, going 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA after allowing 19 earned runs in 22 innings.

Activated Friday, Teng returned to the relief role he occupied at the beginning of the season. He is now 4-6 with a 4.21 ERA.