Taiwan had its share of trouble in a warm-up match for the 2009 International Baseball Federation World Youth Championship, with three players — a pitcher, a catcher and a fielder — sustaining injuries in Taichung yesterday.
Despite sporadic showers, the match started on schedule in the morning.
Following the game, in which Taiwan beat the US 8-3, Taiwan head coach Huang Wu-hsiung said the team had done well and that the pitchers had allayed worries about their ball control.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Taiwan’s first four batters all scored hits, with fourth batter Chu Li-jen scoring a triple, driving in two runners to put Taiwan ahead 2-0.
Unfortunately, team captain Wen Kun-yu suddenly had cramps in both legs after scoring a hit in the sixth and was taken off the field on a stretcher. He was immediately put on an IV and medics said he should be fit to play in later matches.
The two other injured players were pitcher Chiang Li-wei and catcher Lin Yu-chih. Chiang’s left arm was struck by a line drive in the seventh inning, while Lin injured his right leg when he collided with a runner in the fifth.
PHOTO: LIN CHENG-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Huang said he did not expect the injuries to affect the team’s performance in the first round of the championship. His only worry was that the team might have trouble with American left-handed pitcher Cory Geisler, adding that he would he would arrange extra training for them between now and the first round.
The Taiwanese team is scheduled to hold its second warm-up match against Australia in Taichung’s Intercontinental Stadium at 10am today. Spectators are welcome and entry to warm-up matches is free.
Taiwan last hosted the under-16 championship in 2003, when the US beat Taiwan in the final.
The biannual event, originally scheduled to be hosted by Venezuela in 2007, was canceled after Caracas refused to issue visas to the Taiwanese players. Taiwan is set to face Venezuela in the first round on Saturday.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS