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Japan’s last-inning run surge sinks Taiwan

Taiwan’s Chang Chien-ming, right, tries to steal second base as Japan’s starting pitcher, Hideaki Wakui, pitches to Peng Cheng-min who hit a double in the bottom of the first inning of their men’s Olympic baseball game at the Wukesong Baseball Venue in Beijing yesterday. Japan defeated Taiwan 6-1. PHOTO: AFP

Taiwan lost to Japan 6-1 last night, taking their record to one win and one loss.

Reliever Chang Chih-chia took the loss in relief, giving up a run on an RBI single to Japanese outfielder Inaba Atsunori. Japan added four more runs in the top of the ninth inning as the wheels came off for Taiwan.

Starting pitcher Wakui Hideaki got the win for Japan, keeping Taiwan’s hitters off balance with a mix of off-speed pitchers. Japan’s bullpen locked down the game, with Uehara Koji and Fujikawa Kyuji contributing solid relief work.

It was a game of bad luck for Taiwan. Lo Kuo-hui lined into two double plays, one on a rocket to first, the second on a fly out to deep right field. In both cases, second baseman Chang Chih-hsien was doubled up.

Taiwan manager Hong Yi-chung’s decision to lift left-handed reliever Ni Fu-te for the right-handed Chiang would prove costly, as Chiang ended up surrendering the go-ahead run on the left-handed Inaba’s single.

The wheels came off for Taiwan in the top of the ninth inning, with relievers Tsao Chin-hui and Cheng Kai-wen giving up four runs, while the batters had nothing to offer in response.

All in all, it was a disappointing night of missed chances for Taiwan, who kept it close late in the game but couldn’t capitalize on a less-than-stellar effort from Wakui.

Star centerfielder Lin Che-hsuan struck out three times, while first baseman Peng Cheng-min narrowly missed a home run that would have put the team ahead in the bottom of the fourth frame.

Taiwan plays China tomorrow at 10:30am.

DRUG BAN?

Meanwhile, Taiwan player Chang Tai-shan (張泰山) will probably be banned from playing for two years for failing a doping test at the Beijing Olympics, the Central News Agency (CNA) reported yesterday.

The Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee confirmed that the International Baseball Federation (IBAF) notified them of the official test result, CNA reported.

According to IBAF regulations, Chang faces a two-year ban for using a banned substance.

Chang is expected to plead his case at a hearing on Sunday.

The third baseman was first reported to have failed the test on Tuesday when an A sample of his urine taken on July 27 was found to contain an illegal substance.

The B sample was then tested and came back with a positive result for the same type of substance.

The Olympic Games organizers have declined to disclose the name of the drug found in Chang’s samples.

Taiwanese Olympic delegation leader Tsai Szu-chueh (蔡賜爵) earlier said that Chang had been taking fertility pills, but that he had stopped using the medication before participating in the Games.



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