Chen Szu-yuan out of the medal race in Athens

Lin's nerve was shattered at the eighth inning by Cuba getting two hits. Head coach Hsu Sheng-ming (徐生明) sent on Keng Po-hsuan (耿伯軒) as second set-up.

Keng, a 19-year-old rookie of the national team and university freshman, was obviously nervous standing on the pitcher's plate.

He did not take out any Cuban batters, but was given four hits.

Huang Chun-chung (黃俊中) was immediately assigned to replace Keng and made Cuba's ninth batter, Carlos Tabares, fly out, then struck out Eduardo Paret, and ended the inning by grounding out Michel Enriquez.

Cuba earned its last two runs at the ninth inning while Taiwan grained two runs, from the eighth and ninth innings.

Taiwan has now racked up three wins and three losses in the preliminary sessions, and has to gain two wins from its last three games against Italy, Japan and the Netherlands.

"The match with the Netherlands will be the crucial one for Taiwan's hope to enter the final four," sport commentator Tseng Wen-cheng (曾文誠) said.

"Since Australia defeated Japan, if Australia also beats Canada to get five wins and two losses during the preliminary round, then it will replace Taiwan to enter the final four," Tseng said.

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