Taiwan and Japan are to face off tomorrow for the title in the 28th edition of the Asian Baseball Championship, which has been taking place in Taiwan all this week.
Taiwan starting pitcher Wang Tsung-hao mixed up his throws effectively to shut down the Philippines and lead the hosts to a 14-0 rout at the Sinjhuang Baseball Stadium in New Taipei City last night.
With his left-handed delivery, Wang baffled the opposition batters to no-hit the visitors through seven innings and picked up 11 strikeouts along the way.
Photo: CNA
“I am proud to win it on a no-hit game. All credit to the catcher, I just followed his instruction and pitched where he wanted the ball. I hope we can continue our winning ways to the end,” Wang said.
Taiwan’s batters pounded the Philippines pitchers to score nine runs by the fourth frame, with timely hits by third baseman Chen Wei-chih, outfielder Lin Chu-chieh and first baseman Lin Han, as the hosts cruised the rest of the way.
Earlier, Japan pitcher Masaki Tanigawa celebrated his 25th birthday by picking up an important 3-0 win against South Korea.
Tanigawa was in sharp form against the powerful South Korea hitters, as he held firm to scatter six hits and strike out 11 to register the shutout victory.
“It is my goal to show what I can do in this tournament, as we know the scouts are watching and I am signed up for the Japanese professional baseball draft later this month,” Tanigawa said.
He said it was helpful to watch Taiwan play South Korea on Tuesday (which Taiwan won 3-2 in extra innings), as he studied the hitters and made plans on how to pitch when facing the two strong teams.
In the other contest yesterday at the Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei, Pakistan hammered Sri Lanka 10-2.
South Korea take on the Philippines this afternoon, while Hong Kong are to face Sri Lanka.
The final round-robin contest is a warm-up for the final as the hosts take on Japan in Sinjhuang at 6pm, which both managers said would serve as good preparation for the title showdown tomorrow.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two