Taiwan easily cruised past the Czech Republic with a 16-0 win in four innings in their second game of the 12U Baseball World Cup at the Taipei Municipal Baseball Stadium in Tianmu last night.
The hitters had a field day against a Czech pitching staff that served up a dozen hits over the four frames, with help from a defense that committed seven errors in the process.
Three hurlers got the call from skipper Liu Rei-cheng to split up the pitching load, with reliever Huang Ching-you earning the victory for his 1-1/3 innings of fine play. The right-hander fanned three of the four hitters he faced to wow the crowd.
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Leading the way at the plate for Taiwan was a top of an order consisting of Chen Chih-chun, Ma Chun-hao and Chiu Chih-heng, who batted a combined seven-for-11 to account for eight of their team’s dozen RBIs on the night.
Earning accolades with a solid defensive outing for the visitors was leftfielder Miroslav Krivanek, who took away at least two extra-base hits from the Taiwan hitters with two outstanding catches.
BRAZIL 10, MEXICO 7
Photo: Chien Jung-fong, Taipei Times
Brazil fought their way into the win column with a stunning come-from-behind triumph over previously unbeaten Mexico in Tianmu yesterday morning to even their record at 1-1.
Trailing by three in the top of the sixth, the South Americans managed to rally for six unanswered runs off the Mexico bullpen, highlighted by Victor Guenji’s game-tying two-run double to deny Mexico their second win in as many days.
Pedro Miyamoto was credited with the win for his 1-2/3 innings of hitless relief, while the loss went to his counterpart, Jesus Villegas, who served up three runs on three hits in the top of the sixth before being chased.
SOUTH KOREA 2, PANAMA 0
South Korea improved to 2-0 for the tournament with a narrow win over Panama in Tianmu yesterday afternoon.
Kwon Ho-jun’s RBI groundout with a runner on third broke a scoreless tie in the top of the second to give South Korea an early lead, before they made it 2-0 an inning later when Moon San-june beat out a tag at the plate on failed triple-play attempt that might have changed the outcome of the game.
South Korea starter Kim Seong-min earned the complete-game shutout win for his three-hit gem to beat Panama starter Derek Arroyo.
Panama had their best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third against Kim when they placed runners on second and third with one out, but the right-hander was able to pitch out of the jam by inducing a pair of grounders that froze the runners to escape unharmed.
Yesterday’s other scores:
‧ Japan 15, Philippines 0 (4th)
‧ US 20, Pakistan 0 (4th)
‧ Venezuela 17, Russia 0 (4th)
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