Starting pitcher Pan Hui-lung and several relievers combined on a four-hit shutout against the Uni-President Lions in Taichung last night as the Beijing-bound Olympic baseball team breezed past the Lions 7-0.
It was the Olympic team’s second consecutive win in a series of warm-up matches with Chinese Professional Baseball League squads after Wednesday’s embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Brother Elephants.
Offensively, Taiwan jumped on Lions starter Lou Pote early and got all the offense they needed in a three-run first inning. First baseman Peng Chen-ming drove in the game’s first run with a single, followed by second baseman Chiang Chih-hsien’s two-run single to put them ahead 3-0.
The national team would add three more runs off Pote in the top of the second on outfielder Chang Chen-ming’s three-run home run to right field, and added a final insurance run in the top of the ninth on outfielder Pan Wu-hsiung’s single.
Pan stifled the Lions’ bats over five seamless innings, working the lower half of the strike zone and changing speeds effectively.
Relievers Ni Fu-te and Chiang Chih-chia and dominant closer Lo Chia-jen closed out the sixth through ninth innings with scoreless frames.
Boston Red Sox centerfielder Lin Che-hsuan sparkled again for Taiwan, stealing a base, scoring two runs and working opposing pitchers deep into counts.
He will be counted on heavily if the national team is to enjoy success in Beijing.
Seattle Mariners outfielder Lo Kuo-hui, star of the Olympic Qualifier tournaments last fall, continued to struggle at bat and defensively. He is hitting .091 during the current series of exhibitions.
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