Taiwan yesterday beat Mexico 4-1 on a soggy field at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium to remain undefeated at the U-18 Baseball World Cup.
Taiwanese pitchers Zhang Jun-wei, Tseng Wei-che and Chen Mu-heng withstood the wet weather brought by Typhoon Haikui to hold Mexico to just five hits and one run for the home team to sit 3-0 atop the Group A standings of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation tournament.
After a calm first inning, Hu Meng-chih scored in the top of the second, when a Huang Tien-szu single to third base resulted in a throwing error by Mexico.
Photo: CNA
Their North American opponents got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, capitalizing on starter Zhang allowing two walks — Angel Arredondo and Antonis Macia.
Arredondo then scored from second after Omar Bustamante hit a two-out RBI single to tie the game.
Taiwan retook the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, starting with infielder Wang Nian-hao.
Wang singled to get on first base, before a sacrifice bunt from outfielder Ko Ching-hsien put him on second. Wang scored after a pair of singles from Lee Hsun-chieh and Chang Chao-hung.
Lee scored after Mexico reliever Jesus Rodriguez allowed a bases loaded walk.
In the top of the seventh inning, outfielder Lin Chia-wei scored off a single from Lee to secure the victory.
Taiwan earned their second tournament win on Saturday night, dominating South Korea 6-1.
South Korea took an early lead in the top of the first inning, with Park Si-hyun — who got to second off a leadoff single before advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt from Lee Choong-heon — scored off a base hit by Yeo Tong-keon.
Starter Lin Wei-en ended the frame with back-to-back strikeouts, before Taiwan tied it in the bottom of the first when an RBI single from Wang sent outfielder Hsu Ting-lun home on a wild pitch by starter Hwan Jun-seo and a defensive error.
After a scoreless second inning, Taiwan took a healthy 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning, with runs from Wang and Ko.
Wang walked on base after he was hit by Hwan. While Ko was at bat, Wang took third off a wild pitch, and Ko was walked.
Wang then scored off a single from Chiu Hsin, while Ko scored off a Lee single.
Kim Taei-kyeon, who relieved Hwan, could not keep Taiwan in check, as Chiu scored off a Huang single to center field.
Chiu later contributed to Taiwan’s fifth run in the bottom of the fourth inning, after his single brought home fellow Lin Chia-wei.
Ko gave Taiwan a 6-1 lead and the last run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, with another assist from Chiu.
Taiwan — who won their first game on Thursday, blanking Australia 3-0 — are today to play the Czech Republic.
After a rain delay last night, South Korea pummeled the Czech Republic 14-1 to record their first win of the tournament.
Puerto Rico, who yesterday beat Australia 6-0, are second in Group A.
In Group B, world No. 1 Japan pipped their world No. 2 rivals the US 4-3 at Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium.
Japan lead Group B 3-0.
In the other Group B games yesterday, Venezuela beat Spain 6-1 and the Netherlands survived Panama 4-3.
Taiwan, the 2019 champions and runners-up to the US in last year’s championship in Florida, are hosting the tournament for the first time in 10 years. It ends on Sunday.
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