TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan was certain of a place in the WBSC Premier12 finals against Japan despite losing 6-9 against the defending champions at the end of the Super Round in Tokyo Saturday (Nov. 23).
Team Taiwan surprised by having Chen Po-ching (陳柏清) start on the mound for the last game in the Super Round instead of Lin Yu-min (林昱珉), reportedly to save the latter for Sunday’s finals, CNA reported. The unexpected change provoked a protest from the Japanese team.
When the game started, it only took until the bottom of the first inning for Japan to take a lead when second baseman Murabayashi Itsuki homered to left field. The Samurai team’s relentless performance established a four-point lead through Morishita Shota and Kurebayashi Kotaro. By then, Chen had been replaced as pitcher by Chiang Kuo-hao (江國豪).
Taiwan fought back to win its first point at the top of the third inning, when Tseng Song-en (曾頌恩) got to the fourth pitch for an RBI double to left field. For the fourth inning, Kuo Chun-lin (郭俊麟) replaced Chiang as Team Taiwan’s pitcher.
Taiwan then won a second point when Lin Li (林立) produced an RBI single in the fifth inning, cutting its deficit to 2-4. The team did not stop there, adding a third point with Japanese pitcher Hayakawa Takahisa walking two batters.
However, Taiwan’s revival did not last, as the Samurai created some distance again, advancing to 3-7 as third baseman Kiyomiya Kotaro crushed a two-RBI triple to center field. During the sixth inning, Taiwan at first recaptured some ground, moving to 5-7, but Japan never allowed them to catch up, widening the gap to 5-9.
The ninth inning still saw the final point in the game scored by Taiwan when backup right fielder Lin An-ko (林安可) reached his second pitch with a home run to right field, according to WSBC.
Taiwan will face Japan for the second time in two days on Sunday (Nov. 24) for the Premier12 Medal Games, also in Tokyo, CNA reported. The game will be the first time in 32 years that Taiwan features in the finals of a major baseball tournament.


