John Gant Shuts Out Brothers for Eight Innings in Taiwan Series Opener

John Gant carried the Wei Chuan Dragons through eight scoreless innings as they beat the CTBC Brothers 3-0 in Game 1 of the 2026 Taiwan Series on Saturday, October 17, before a sellout crowd of 40,000 at Taipei Dome.

Gant allowed only two hits, struck out six and walked two while throwing 100 pitches. The former MLB right-hander repeatedly escaped early trouble, then retired the Brothers without a hit from the fifth through the eighth inning.

Gant controls Taiwan Series opener

Gant began with six straight outs. CTBC reached scoring position in both the third and fourth innings, but he responded with a strikeout to end the third and induced a double play in the fourth.

The performance extended a dominant first CPBL season for the 34-year-old. Gant finished the regular season as the league’s ERA and strikeout leader, posting a 1.49 ERA with 136 strikeouts.

Closer Lin Kai-wei handled the ninth inning to complete the two-hit shutout and give Wei Chuan a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

Dragons break through in fifth

CTBC starter Mario Sanchez retired the first 10 batters he faced, but the Dragons finally broke through in the fifth. Yu-Hsien Chu singled and Tzu-Hao Chen doubled to put runners at second and third before Chun-Wei Liu and Chen-Hsun Lin delivered consecutive sacrifice flies.

Wei Chuan added its third run with two outs in the sixth. Cheng-Yu Chang doubled and Chi-Hung Liu drove him home with a single.

Sanchez worked seven innings, giving up six hits and three runs without issuing a walk. CTBC’s two hits were the fewest the club has ever recorded in the opening game of a Taiwan Series.

The victory was especially valuable in CPBL championship history. Excluding seasons in which one club automatically claimed the title by winning both halves, the Game 1 winner has gone on to take the championship in 29 of 33 previous Taiwan Series.