"Unbelievable" is the only word that comes to mind after Taiwan's dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind victory over South Korea in Game 1 of the final round of the 2003 Asian Baseball Championship.
Reserve catcher Kao Chih-kang's (
The game began with South Korea jumping to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on South Korean cleanup man Lee Seung-Yuop's run-scoring single and designated hitter Jang Sung-Ho's RBI double off Taiwanese starter Wang Chien-ming (
PHOTO: AP
Down by two runs, Taiwan managed to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning on designated hitter Chen Chin-feng's (
The game was tied up at two-all in the fourth inning when catcher Yeh Jung-chang (葉君璋) hit into a fielder's choice that brought home Hsieh Jia-shien from third. Hsieh led off the inning with a standup double off the center field wall against South Korean starter Chung Min-tae.
Unrattled by Taiwan's comeback effort, the South Koreans struck again in the fifth to retake the lead on Lee Seung-Yuop's line drive up the middle off Wang Chien-ming, after second baseman Kim Jong-kook began the inning with a perfectly executed bunt single.
PHOTO: AFP
The score would remain 3-2 after eight innings as South Korean reliever Lim Chang-yong retired the side against the Taiwanese hitters from the fifth through the eighth innings for four consecutive innings of perfect relief pitching.
Heading into the ninth inning with a one-run lead, the Koreans chalked up another run against Taiwanese reliever Yang Chien-fu (陽建福) on center fielder Lee Jong-Beom's two-out RBI double that scored second baseman Kim Jong-kook all the way from first.
Trailing by two runs for the second time in the game, the Taiwanese comeback quest began with the first two batters drawing walks against Lim Chang-Yong in the bottom of the ninth. That sent South Korean closer Cho Woong-Chun to the mound to face Taiwanese shortstop Cheng Jau-han (鄭兆行). Cheng promptly responded with a run-scoring single.
Two outs later, with runners at the corners, Taiwanese center fielder Chen Chih-yuan (
The top of the 10th started out with Taiwanese third baseman Chang Tai-shan (
Chang would reach third on a single by right fielder Peng Cheng-ming (
The South Koreans decided to intentionally walk the next batter, loading the bases with only one out. Kao Chih-kang then made them pay by knocking home what would be the eventual game-winner.
Reliever Chang Chih-chia (
Taiwan now faces Japan today at 6:30pm in a key matchup that will determine the winner of the competition.
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