Taiwan yesterday suffered a shutout 2-0 loss to Venezuela in the opening game of the WBSC Premier12 Super Round at the Tokyo Dome.
Taiwan had seven hits, one more than Venezuela’s six, but catcher Carlos Perez’s two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning delivered the only runs scored by both teams and secured victory for Venezuela.
Taiwan’s best chance came at the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded and only one out.
Photo: CNA
However, Venezuela reliever Liarvis Breto struck out Chen Chen-wei before reliever Pedro Garcia finished the inning by allowing an infield flyball by Lin Li.
At a post-game news conference, Taiwan manager Tseng Hao-ju said it was a pity that his team were unable to score, despite having more hits than Venezuela.
Tseng praised all the team’s relievers for keeping the game close and not giving up any runs from the fourth inning onward.
Photo: CNA
The squad would make some adjustments and hopefully can do better in the next game, he said.
“I have faith in my players,” he added.
Thirteen of Taiwan’s batters were struck out by eight Venezuela pitchers, a sharp contrast to only five Venezuela batters struck out by five Taiwan pitchers.
Photo: CNA
The game featured a pitchers’ duel between two players from the CPBL.
Taiwan starter Huang Tzu-peng of CPBL’s Rakuten Monkeys and Venezuela’s Nivaldo Rodriguez of the Fubon Guardians had impressive games, both throwing three scoreless innings before Huang gave up a home run in the fourth.
Huang gave up two earned runs on five hits, striking out three batters in 4.2 innings.
Photo: CNA
Rodriguez cruised through four scoreless innings, striking out five while giving up only three hits.
In the evening game at the same venue, hosts Japan defeated the US 9-1.
Taiwan face the US today at noon at the Tokyo Dome.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan and Venezuela are two of the four teams who advanced to the Super Round.
Taiwan finished the opening round in second in Group B with a 4-1 record. Japan topped the group.
Venezuela won Group A, which was played in Guadalajara and Tepic, Mexico, with the US second.
The teams who finish first and second in the Super Round are to play in the gold medal match, while the teams in third and fourth are to play for bronze.
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