Karachi Home Run Binge

[Karachi_GM]

Karachi Home Run Binge

by Hasan Khan, Sports Editor (Karachi Dawn)
July 26, 2106

Karachi led the league in home runs last year, but this year Mumbai is far and away the team leader.  Nonetheless, Brisbane hurler Jean-Claude Mercier (1947) probably wanted to escape home to France after his effort against Karachi on July 21st.  Mercer is 10-5 on the year with a respectable 3.58 ERA even after that game.  In the first inning with one out Karachi shortstop Teh-huai Guo lofted a solo home run to left field.  Mercier retired the next hitter, Konosuke Sanu, but then he walked the next two hitters.  Big mistake.  Luis Rivera followed up with a three-run homer to left that traveled even father than Guo’s shot.  Not to be outdone, next up Xian-yao Nan went yard to right with a solo shot.  Mercier staggered to the dugout after finally getting the last out.

Down 5-0, Mercier came out for the second inning, probably thinking he had weathered the worst of it.  Well, no, sorry Jean-Claude.  Falcon pitcher Shuncho Kan singled past second to set up a two run home run by leadoff batter Luo-lang Wang.  After Guo and Sanu singled, Mercier settled down and got the next two hitters.  Alas, here came Luis Rivera.  Rattled, the Brisbane battery allowed Guo to score on a passed ball before Rivera lofted his second homer in an as many innings.  Bye, bye, Mercier.  One and two thirds innings, eight hits, and ten earned runs.  Ouch.  The Falcons prevailed 11-5 after Teh-huai Guo added his second solo shot home run in the fifth.  We should note that Shuncho Kan picked up his 13th win of the season, the first time in seven years that he has exceeded 12 wins.

The Falcons ended a very successful week which included taking three of four from division leading Brisbane and a three game sweep of London.  That put Karachi at 52-45, just half a game behind Brisbane in the division.  Home runs have certainly helped in the resurgence, but even more important is the fact the pitching staff, often maligned last season, has given up the fewest runs in the IBL as well as posting the lowest WHIP and the lowest opponent batting average.