BASEBALL/Astros option Teng Kai-wei back to minors after brief majors return

Taipei, Sept. 7 (CNA) The Houston Astros sent Taiwanese right-hander Teng Kai-wei (鄧愷威) back to Triple-A after the team's 3-4 loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Teng was initially recalled to the majors on Aug. 21 to help strengthen the Astros' bullpen.

On Sunday, Teng pitched a total of 0.1 innings, in which he struck out one batter but gave up two walks and allowed a run.

The Sunday result saw Teng allow six runs in his last three games with the team in the majors, prompting the Astros to announce that the Taiwanese pitcher will be optioned back to the Astros' Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.

The 27-year-old Taichung native has made 30 MLB appearances this season, including 10 starts, posting a 5-7 record and a 4.76 ERA over 73.2 innings.

With Teng and infielder Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) of the Boston Red Sox back in Triple-A, the only active Taiwanese player in the MLB is Detroit Tigers' 23-year-old Taiwanese infielder Lee Hao-yu (李灝宇).

Also on Sunday, the Tigers lost 3-2 to the Cleveland Guardians, a game in which Lee batted second and started on second base.

At the top of the first, Lee drew a walk to first base before hits from subsequent teammates allowed him to score his only run of the game.

Lee was then struck out in the top of the third and fifth innings before hitting a foul pop-up in the top of the eighth.

The eyes of Taiwanese baseball fans were on Lee in July as he went on a 12-game hitting streak in July, which ended at the end of the month.

However, Lee has not recorded a hit in his last two games, though he did receive walks in both.

Following the Sunday game, Lee's batting average fell to around .260, down from .378 at the peak of his hot streak.