CPBL: Taiwan Series starts with Rakuten Monkeys collecting first win
The 2025 Taiwan Series opened on 18 October with the CTBC Brothers hosting the Rakuten Monkeys at the Taipei Dome, with 40,000 fans showing up for the fall classic.
The Brothers, earning a first-round bye and advancing to the Taiwan Series with the best overall record, met with the Monkeys, who stunned the first-half season winner, the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions, by winning three games in a row to earn their berth to the Taiwan Series.
For the defending champions, the Brothers, it is their ninth trip to the Taiwan Series since 2014. The Brothers have won the titles in 2021, 2022, and 2024. For the Monkeys, it is their third trip to the Taiwan Series since 2020, when the club was sold to the Japanese e-marketing giant Rakuten, and the Monkeys are still seeking their first title since. The Brothers and the Monkeys met in the Taiwan Series 2022, with the Brothers sweeping the series to successfully repeat the title.
Brothers sent Nivaldo Rodriguez (11-7, 1.84 ERA) to the mound to face the Monkeys’ Marcelo Martinez (13-8, 2.51 ERA) to start Game 1.
Minutes after the 2025 Taiwan Series was underway, the Rakuten Monkeys surprised everyone by scoring the first run on Chia-Jung Liang’s single to secure a 1-0 lead. Two innings later, the Monkeys scored another two runs on three hits and a walk, and it appeared to be all Martinez needed for the night as he threw seven scoreless innings while only yielding three hits and issuing one free pass.
Monkeys’ bullpen picked it up from the eighth and combined to throw two scoreless innings to seal the victory for the Monkeys.
Brothers’ starter Rodríguez lasted five innings, gave up three runs, all earned, on eight hits, while he struck out only one but walked three.
The first three Taiwan Series games are all scheduled at the Taipei Dome, with the Brothers hosting the Monkeys in the first two games, and the Monkeys hosting the Brothers in the third game on 21 October. Game 4 will be played at the Monkeys’ home field at Rakuten Taoyuan Baseball Stadium on 22 October. Game 5 to 7, if necessary, will be played at Brother’s home field at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium from 24-26 October.
CTBC Brothers have won 10 championships dating back to the Brother Elephants era. The Monkeys have won seven titles during their La new Bears and Lamigo Monkeys era and are still seeking their first title as Rakuten Monkeys.
