A base-running mistake that negated at least a run in the top of the 10th inning, coupled with a pair of defensive errors, cost Taiwan the game as they succumbed to the Netherlands 5-3 in the second round of the Intercontinental Cup at the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium in Taichung yesterday afternoon, denying the home team a chance to play Cuba in the title game scheduled for 6:30pm this evening.
Lin Chih-sheng’s (La New Bears) two-out single to shallow-left with the bases loaded scored the runner from third to put Taiwan ahead 4-3, but Chung Cheng-yo (Bears) was easily gunned down at the plate from second for the inning-ending out after being forced to head for home plate by Chen Yong-chi (Pittsburg Pirates), who overran second base to end what could have been a multi-run inning for Taiwan.
That set up a wild pitch by Taiwan reliever Lo Ching-lung (Colorado Rockies) and a passed ball by catcher Kao Chih-kang (Uni-President Lions) in the bottom of the 10th to score the tying run from second, before Mariekson Gregorius homered on a full-count pitch off Lo to win it in dramatic fashion for the Netherlands.
PHOTO: CNA
“It was a hard one to take, especially after the way we fought back to tie the game in the seventh,” Taiwanese skipper Yeh Chih-hsien said after the game.
His troops had overcome a brilliant two-hit effort from Diegomar Markwell through the sixth inning by belting three straight hits off the Dutch starter, highlighted by Kao Guo-ching’s (Lions) two-run double with two outs to erase a two-run deficit and tie the game at 2-2.
Starter Chen Kuan-yu tossed one-run ball on four hits and three walks over the first five innings to keep pace with Markwell, but found himself down by a deuce after giving up a solo blast to the Netherlands’ Curt Smith in the sixth to cut his day short.
In came reliever Huang Chih-lung (Yomiuri Giants), who kept the Netherlands from scoring another run over the next two-and-two-third innings, before leaving with two on and one out in the ninth and his successor, Lo, threw spectacular double-play ball to send the game into extra-innings.
Taiwan’s luck ran out in the 10th as the miscues finally caught up with them, turning an otherwise thrilling seesaw affair into a disappointing defeat.
Netherlands reliever Orlando Yntema was credited with the win for his three solid innings of one-run relief, while Lo was tagged with the loss for allowing three runs on one hit in the decisive 10th.
Next up for Taiwan will be Italy, who also dropped a 5-3 decision to undefeated Cuba in the other semi-final, in the battle for the third place at the Intercontinental Baseball Stadium at 12:30pm this afternoon.
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