Outfielder Lee Jin-young’s grand slam put the exclamation point on a six-run first inning as Taiwan fell to South Korea 9-0 in their disastrous opening match of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last night in Tokyo.
South Korea’s hitters took advantage of Taiwan starting pitcher Lee Chen-chang’s command struggles in the first, scoring two runs on first baseman Kim Tae-kyun’s two-run single and then putting the game definitively out of reach on Lee Jin-young’s no-doubt grand slam to deep right field.
Lee Chen-chang — the Cleveland Indians minor leaguer counted on to be Taiwan’s staff ace after looking sharp in warm-up matches — struggled to find the plate from the game’s onset, throwing just 11 strikes in 27 pitches.
Lee walked three batters and gave up two big hits, lasting just a third of an inning before being replaced by right-hander Cheng Kai-wen.
GUESSING AND FLAILING
South Korea’s starting pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin dominated Taiwan’s lineup, locating well and using an outstanding change-up to keep Taiwan’s hitters guessing and flailing.
Ryu picked up the win in three scoreless innings for South Korea. Bong Jeun-kyun, Lee Seung-ho and Im Tae-hoon combined for six shutout innings in relief of Ryu.
Centerfielder Lin Che-hsuan was Taiwan’s lone bright spot in the match. His patient leadoff at bat in the top of the first against Ryu resulted in a walk, giving Taiwan a base-running threat and some early momentum.
HEADED SOUTH
However, the threat evaporated quickly — along with Taiwan’s chances — when second baseman Chiang Chih-hsien’s failed bunt attempt resulted in a double play. Things quickly headed south from there.
Kim and second baseman Jeong Keun-woo had two RBI each as the team tacked on three runs in the fifth and sixth inning after the game was already out of hand.
Taiwan’s WBC team is young and inexperienced and comprises mostly US minor leaguers and unsigned amateurs.
Two of the CPBL’s four teams — the La New Bears and Sinon Bulls — kept their players off the WBC roster, leaving manager Yeh Chih-hsien without a number of regulars. Of the young core of players, only Lin gave Taiwan’s fans much to feel good about.
The Red Sox minor league outfielder had several quality at bats, working pitchers deep into counts. He went 2-for-3 at the dish and made a dazzling throw from center field to nail catcher Park Kyung-oan as he tried to stretch a single into extra bases.
Taiwan is set to play China in a do-or-die match tomorrow night, with the team hoping to redeem itself after a face-losing loss in the Beijing Olympics. It was China’s first ever win in Olympic baseball.
Until recently, Taiwan would have been considered a prohibitive favorite, but the rapidly improving Team China showed surprising resilience against a tough Japanese team in their 4-0 loss on Thursday night.
And if last night’s game was any indication, Taiwan’s national team seems to be headed in the opposite direction.
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