Detroit: Detroit Tigers prospect Lee Hao-yu, the only active Taiwanese hitter in Major League Baseball, played a pivotal role in the Tigers' 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Lee's performance was highlighted by an RBI single that contributed to a decisive four-run inning for Detroit.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lee's crucial hit came during the bottom of the seventh inning, with his family watching from the stands. Lee's ground ball, deflected by Rangers second baseman Josh Smith, allowed him to drive in his fifth major league run, helping the Tigers secure the three-game series with two wins. This marked a significant moment for Lee, who had earlier struck out twice against Rangers' starting pitcher Jack Leiter.
With Detroit holding a 3-1 lead and Kerry Carpenter on second base, Lee managed to hit a grounder off a 96.1 mph sinker, bringing Carpenter home. Lee later advanced to third and scored on consecutive singles, marking Leiter's fifth earned run of the game. Despite Leiter's 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, he took his third loss of the season, with his earned run average rising to 5.45.
Lee, 23, is currently slashing .212/.278/.364 in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, respectively. He was promoted to the Tigers in mid-April as an injury replacement for utility player Zach McKinstry. McKinstry, meanwhile, hit a home run in his Triple-A debut on Saturday as he nears the end of his rehab assignment. It remains uncertain whether Lee will remain in the majors once McKinstry returns.
The win places Detroit tied atop the American League Central Division with the Cleveland Guardians, both at 18-17. The Guardians also faced defeat, losing 7-1 to the Athletics on Sunday, leaving them 1.5 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox.
In related news, Taiwanese right-hander Teng Kai-wei recorded his third hold of the season on Saturday, contributing to the Houston Astros' 6-3 win over the Boston Red Sox with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Teng's performance lowered his ERA to 2.57. Astros manager Joe Espada noted that Teng was initially scheduled to start on Sunday but was utilized on Saturday due to the team's needs. The Astros went on to defeat Boston 3-1 on Sunday, improving to a 14-21 record and ranking fourth in the American League West Division.