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Taiwan's hitters down Mexico

Taiwan's Lin Chih-sheng puts out a Mexican player in their game at the Douliou stadium, Yunlin County, yesterday. PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUN, TAIPEI TIMES

Taiwan stormed past Mexico in their second game at the IBAF Final Olympic Qualification Tournament in high-flying fashion, with a 6-1 victory at the Douliou stadium yesterday afternoon to remain unbeaten.

Taiwan, clearly energized by the sellout crowd of 14,000-plus, ripped 13 hits off the Mexican pitching to silence any critics who might have had doubts about their lack of fire power on offense, given the absence of big-name hitters such as Chen Chin-fong and Hsieh Jia-shien, who are both out of the competition with injuries.

Leading the attack for Taiwan with three hits and a pair of RBIs was Peng "Chia Chia" Cheng-min who collected his second multi-RBI game in as many days and accounted for a good part of the scoring.

Also starring for the hosts were Chang Jien-ming, Lin Tseh-hsuen and Chang "Prince of the Forest" Tai-shan, who hit the three different Mexican pitchers twice each and produced four RBIs.

Taking the mound for Taiwan and putting in an impeccable performance was veteran right-hander Yang Jien-fu, who allowed the lone run for Mexico after five scattered singles, before being relieved in the sixth.

Taiwan's Lin Che-hsuan dives forward to take a catch in their game against Mexico at the Douliou stadium, Yunlin County, yesterday. PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUN, TAIPEI TIMES

Equally impressive was reliever Cheng Kai-wen, who kept the damage to a minimum in the sixth by picking up two quick strikeouts before giving up a run-scoring double. Cheng would end up tossing three-and-a-third innings of shutout ball on three hits and three strikeouts before handing the ball to fellow closer Luo Jia-ren one out into the ninth.

The contest began with the Taiwanese hitters getting to Mexico starter Pablo Ortega early, with three hits over the first two innings even though they would come up empty in both cases, keeping it a scoreless affair.

That would end in a hurry in the top of the third when Chang Tai-shan's chopper to short with men on second and third made its way to shallow-left for a two-run single that made it 2-0 in favor of the hosts.

The home team then doubled their lead in the next inning as Chang Jien-ming's grounder through the right side of the infield with men on second and third scored both runners.

Mexico threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth, with two singles and a walk off Yang. But a pick-off play that was executed to perfection by Yang and fellow shortstop Lin Chih-sheng, coupled with a diving stop by third baseman Lin Yi-chuan, kept the Mexicans from crossing the plate.

After Mexico finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, the momentum suddenly swung in favor of the North Americans.

Tension remained high with Cheng pitching out of a couple of jams in the seventh and eighth, until Peng delivered his third hit of the game, a two-run single with the bases loaded that ultimately made the game safe.

Germany 1, Spain 0

German starting pitcher Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez threw a five-hit complete game shutout against the Spanish yesterday in a sparsely attended Douliou stadium, outdueling hard-luck Spanish starter Yoel Hernandez to earn the victory.

German CF Sacha Lutz provided the game's only offense with a solo-shot to right field in the top of the 8th inning.

Marquez-Ramirez struck out three and walked none in the contest.

South Korea 16, Australia 2

The Koreans overwhelmed the Aussies in a mercy rule victory -- and joined Taiwan and Canada at the top of the standings -- after helping themselves to big runs in the first, third and fourth innings at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium.

Canada 10, South Africa 0

Canada also enjoyed a mercy rule win over the South Africans earlier yesterday at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, thanks to a six-run haul at the bottom of the fifth inning.
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