Chiang Chien-ming's body was stiff and his ball speed was not where it needed to be when he reported to the Taiwan national team late last month.
But he figured out a solution to his problems yesterday.
Chiang, backed by solid hitting from the Taiwanese bats, managed to beat Spain 13-3 on the opening day of the IBAF Final Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
PHOTO: LIAO YAO-TUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chiang, who pitches for the Yomiuri Giants of the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, was in the midst of spring training when he came back to Taiwan. He was not ready for competition and had little over a week to get ready for the Olympic qualifiers.
"I need to use the time I have to adjust, otherwise my spot on the team will be taken," Chiang said at the time.
What Chiang needed was one inning.
He gave up two runs in the top of the first, allowing Spain, who were heavy underdogs, to jump to a 2-0 lead. Then he found his groove.
Over the next four innings Chiang made quick work of the Spanish batters before handing the ball over to his relievers and the Taiwanese batters found a way out of a slump they had been mired in during the warm-up games to give Taiwan the win.
Chang Chien-ming opened the bottom of the first with a long drive to the right that dropped for a triple and brought the crowd to their feet. Two batters later, Peng Cheng-min drove him home with a two-run shot that just cleared the outfield wall to tie the score at two.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second, Chang Chien-ming hit a double to left field that brought home two runs. Then Taiwan added two more runs to bring the score to 6-2.
The hosts blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth. Chang Chien-ming, Lin Chen-hsuan and Chang Tai-shan all scored and then Lo Kuo-hui hit a three-run home run to give Taiwan a 12-2 lead.
Taiwan added one more run in the bottom of the seventh, which put them ahead by 10. The mercy rule was invoked, which brings the game to a finish if a team is ahead by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning.
Spain had a chance to do some damage in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and one out. But Jose Luis Riera Castro struck out, Ricardo Rodriguez Santana popped out and the Spaniards only managed to add one run.
From Lo running out a short dribbler to beat the throw to first, to Lin Chih-sheng sliding into the second baseman to break up a double play and force an error, Taiwan took care of the little things to beat the Spaniards.
Eight teams are playing in the tournament, and the top three earn a chance to play at the Beijing Olympics. South Korea are considered favorites, and Taiwan, Mexico, Australia and Canada all have a reasonable shot of making the top three.
CANADA 15, MEXICO 10
Team Canada struck first in the march to the Beijing Olympics by out-slugging Mexico 15-10 in an offensive brawl that featured a combined 36 hits.
Canadian third base Matt Rogelstad went three-for-four with three runs scored and two RBIs, as six Canadian hitters had two hits or more in a game featuring 11 pitchers between both teams.
Hard-throwing right-hander Scott Richmond picked up the win in relief for Canada despite giving up three runs in two-and-two-third innings pitched.
Mexican pitcher Victor Alvarez took the loss in a rough outing, giving up six runs over two innings. After falling behind early 6-0, Mexico rallied with a surprising eight-run bottom of the third, but then quickly fell behind again for good in the fourth.
Former Colorado Rockies catcher Geronimo Gil went three-for-five in defeat for the Mexican squad.
AUSTRALIA 4, GERMANY 1
The Australian national team beat Germany 4-1 behind effective outings from left-handed pitcher Paul Mildren and right-hander Scott Mitchinson.
Mildren picked up the victory, striking out seven over five innings with one walk. Mildren mixed up breaking pitches and painted the strike zone efficiently against Germany's overmatched hitters.
Mitchinson worked the final four innings for the save, striking out four in four scoreless innings of work.
Starter Tim Henkenjohann took the loss for the German team, struggling with command and walking five over six innings, including two wild pitches.
Catcher Kai Gronauer was the lone bright spot offensively for the German team, going two-for-four with the team's only RBI. Luke Hughes shone defensively and had two hits, a run, and an RBI for the Australians.
Earlier result from Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium:
* South Korea 5, South Africa 0
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