Taiwan’s coaches and players yesterday were taking stock after a disappointing 12-5 defeat against Panama in their Pool A opener, a result that has piled pressure on the national squad in their bid to advance to the quarter-finals.
The Netherlands lead the group after their second win in two days yesterday, a 3-1 victory over Panama.
Taiwan head coach Lin Yue-ping oversaw training at the National Taichung University of Education ballpark ahead of today’s outing against Italy.
Photo: Cheng I-hwa, AP
Lin said that they need to win all three of their remaining pool games.
“We wanted to get a win against Panama, but things did not go our way,” Lin said. “We face tough oppositions in this group and have our backs against the wall, but Taiwan’s players can turn the situation around for three must-win games.”
The pitching staff had a rough game on Wednesday, Lin said.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
Panama’s hitters knocked around starter Hu Chih-wei and the relievers, putting on 14 hits.
Hu was tagged with the loss, giving up three runs on five hits through three innings for an ERA of 9.00.
After Hu, there were seven pitchers used through the middle innings and in relief, but none of them could contain the offense.
Photo: RITCHIE B. TONGO, EPA-EFE
“The main factor for the defeat was due to control problems among our pitching staff, which gifted Panama nine walks,” Lin said.
“At training, I told them to have courage to attack the strike zone,” he said.
“It was not good that our pitchers issue two or even three walks in a frame,” he said, adding that it allowed Panama to hit with impunity.”
He said that he has plans for who would start against Italy and who would be in the bullpen, but refused to provide a lineup, saying that he had to convene the coaching staff later yesterday to make adjustments.
Veteran reliever Lee Chen-chang, who played for Cleveland in the MLB and the Saitama Seibu Lions in Japan, said that the younger Taiwan pitchers must improve their mental game and stop thinking too much on the mound.
The pressure began to play on their minds, leading to struggles with control, he said.
The first pitch in their game against Italy today is scheduled for 7pm, while Cuba are to play Panama at noon.
All of the games in Pool A are at the Taichung Intercontinental Stadium.
Local fans and government officials said that they are behind Taiwan all the way.
Organizers said that all of Taiwan’s games have sold out, with a capacity crowd of 20,000 people expected at each of them.
Taiwan are to host the Netherlands tomorrow before taking on Cuba at noon on Sunday.
The Netherlands have emerged as the team to beat, with starter Shairon Martis credited with their win yesterday after pitching into the fourth inning without yielding a run.
Curacao-born Martis pitched for the Uni-President Lions in 2014, garnering an 8-7 record and a 3.15 ERA in his sole season in the CPBL.
Xander Bogaerts had three hits, including a double and a solo homer.
In the late game, Italy and Cuba were 2-2 at press time last night heading into extra innings.
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