TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan beat South Korea 6-3 on Wednesday (Nov. 13) in the opening game of the WBSC Premier12 Championship Group B.
The opener sold out with 40,000 fans packing Taipei Dome, per CNA. Outfielder Chen Chen-wei (陳晨威) hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second. Center fielder Chen Chieh-hsien (陳傑憲) added a two-run homer in the same inning, putting Taiwan up 6-0.
Taiwan’s starting pitcher Lin Yu-min (林昱珉) threw for 4.2 innings, allowing two hits, before being relieved by Zhang Yi (張奕).
Zhang admitted the game was tense. He told reporters, “Because I was so nervous, I also walked a bit on the pitcher's mound to give myself a little buffer…The fans' shouting also gave me a lot of strength."
Team manager Tseng Hao-ju (曾豪駒) credited the Taiwanese players for showing confidence against South Korea. South Korea’s team manager Ryu Joong-il also commended Taiwan's strong batting lineup.
The WBSC Premier12 Championship features the world's top 12 teams. The top two teams from groups A and B will go to the final rounds in Japan.
Taiwan's best Premier12 finish was fifth in 2019. South Korea won first place at the inaugural championship games in 2015 and second in 2019.