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Gut-check time for CBL squads
You snooze, you lose. The truth in that old axiom has become painfully evident for the Tianjin Lions and Guandgong Leopards as the China Baseball League regular season heads into its final weekend. A week ago the Lions and Leopards were comfortably ensconced in the top two spots in the CBL standings and looked to be on a collision course for the championship Finals, slated to open July 2. Entering last weekend's series against the third-place Beijing Tigers, Tianjin held a three-game lead over Guangdong and a four-game bulge over defending champion Beijing. The Leopards, who played host to the cellar-dwelling Shanghai Eagles, looked to have the easiest route to the Finals, needing only a split over their last six games. But somebody forgot to tell the other guys. The Tigers roared into Tianjin's Tian Ti Dodger Stadium and swept all three games, while the Eagles took two of three from Guangdong. As a result, Beijing (19-14) now sits in second spot, one game back of Tianjin (20-13) heading into this weekend's three-game set at Fengtai Stadium. Guangdong (18-15) remains one game out of the playoff picture, and will be gunning for a sweep in Shanghai to keep their slim post-season hopes alive. A number of scenarios could unfold based on what happens on the field this weekend, but CBL rules stipulate that in the event of a tie, the final standings are determined by head-to-head results. Using that formula, the numbers favour Tianjin and Beijing. Even if the Lions lose all three games they would still be 6-6 against the Tigers, while the latter own a 7-5 record against Guangdong. As always, pitching is the biggest question mark for all three contenders. Tianjin will be hoping for another strong effort from lefty Puerto Rican import John Burgos, tomorrow's likely starter. Burgos has emerged as the premier power thrower on the Lions' staff but has been plagued by poor run support. The Tigers, meanwhile, will be looking for more of the same from lefthander Zhang Jianwang, who went the distance for the first time in his CBL career en route to beating Tianjin 6-3 last Friday. Relying mostly on a dancing fastball and sharp slider, Zhang notched eight strikeouts and allowed just one earned run on eight hits. Beijing's top two hurlers, Li Chenhao and Wang Nan, were unavailable in Tianjin due to injury, but both are expected to return to the rotation this weekend. Guangdong is scheduled to start Dominican ace Cuello, on loan from the Japan League's Hiroshima Carps, tomorrow in Shanghai. Cuello was roughed up for five early runs in Sunday's 8-2 loss to the Eagles - marking the first time he has surrendered more than two runs since joining the Leopards last month. |
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