Thu, Nov 06, 2003 page19

• Taiwanese down the South Koreans

  • By Paul Huang / CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
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  "Unbelievable" is the only word that comes to mind after Taiwan's dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind victory over South Korea in Game 1 of the final round of the 2003 Asian Baseball Championship.

  Reserve catcher Kao Chih-kang's (高志綱) high bouncer over Korean third baseman Kim Dong-joo into shallow left knocked home pinch runner Cheng Chang-ming (鄭昌明) from third base for the game-clincher to seal Taiwan's most dramatic victory against the South Koreans in recent history and instantaneously brought the entire nation, having their eyes glued to the television set all game, to their feet with joy.

  The game began with South Korea jumping to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on South Korean cleanup man Lee Seung-Yuop's run-scoring single and designated hitter Jang Sung-Ho's RBI double off Taiwanese starter Wang Chien-ming (王建民). Only one of the two runs was earned, because Taiwanese first baseman Hsieh Jia-shien (謝佳賢) missed an easy catch that turned an out into the first run of the game.

  

  Huang Kan-lin, left, celebrates with his teammate Cheng Chang-ming, center, after Kao Chih-kang hit a game-winning single in the 10th inning of Taiwan's first game at the Asian Baseball Championships in Sapporo, Japan, yesterday. South Korean catcher Jin Kab-yong, right, shows his disappointment.

  PHOTO: AP

  Down by two runs, Taiwan managed to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third inning on designated hitter Chen Chin-feng's (陳金峰) sacrifice fly to left field.

  The game was tied up at two-all in the fourth inning when catcher Yeh Jung-chang (葉君璋) hit into a fielder's choice that brought home Hsieh Jia-shien from third. Hsieh led off the inning with a standup double off the center field wall against South Korean starter Chung Min-tae.

  Unrattled by Taiwan's comeback effort, the South Koreans struck again in the fifth to retake the lead on Lee Seung-Yuop's line drive up the middle off Wang Chien-ming, after second baseman Kim Jong-kook began the inning with a perfectly executed bunt single.

  

  Baseball fans gathered in front of the Taipei County Government offices yesterday to watch a live big-screen television broadcast of Taiwan's game against South Korea in the Asian Baseball Championships being held in Sapporo, Japan.

  PHOTO: AFP

  The score would remain 3-2 after eight innings as South Korean reliever Lim Chang-yong retired the side against the Taiwanese hitters from the fifth through the eighth innings for four consecutive innings of perfect relief pitching.

  Heading into the ninth inning with a one-run lead, the Koreans chalked up another run against Taiwanese reliever Yang Chien-fu (陽建福) on center fielder Lee Jong-Beom's two-out RBI double that scored second baseman Kim Jong-kook all the way from first.

  Trailing by two runs for the second time in the game, the Taiwanese comeback quest began with the first two batters drawing walks against Lim Chang-Yong in the bottom of the ninth. That sent South Korean closer Cho Woong-Chun to the mound to face Taiwanese shortstop Cheng Jau-han (鄭兆行). Cheng promptly responded with a run-scoring single.

  Two outs later, with runners at the corners, Taiwanese center fielder Chen Chih-yuan (陳致遠) drove a pitch from Cho Woong-Chun up the middle to tie the game at 4-4. The next batter, Huang Chung-yi (黃忠義), struck out to end the inning, sending the game into extra innings.

  The top of the 10th started out with Taiwanese third baseman Chang Tai-shan (張泰山) drawing a walk off Cho Woong-chun.

  Chang would reach third on a single by right fielder Peng Cheng-ming (彭政閔), putting runners on the corners once again.

  The South Koreans decided to intentionally walk the next batter, loading the bases with only one out. Kao Chih-kang then made them pay by knocking home what would be the eventual game-winner.

  Reliever Chang Chih-chia (張誌家) of Taiwan sat down the side in the bottom of the 10th for the win, while Cho Woong-chun took the tough loss for South Korea.

  Taiwan now faces Japan today at 6:30pm in a key matchup that will determine the winner of the competition.
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