Taiwan on Tuesday advanced to the Super Round at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in Naha, Japan, after winning a dramatic extra-inning tiebreaker over Germany.
Taiwan’s Pasula Takislinian scored in the top of the first inning at Nishizaki Stadium in Itoman City, Okinawa, but Germany answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Despite Taiwan’s efforts to even the score, Germany held the lead until Hsu Shu-cheng scored a run and tied the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning thanks to teammate Li Kai-qi’s single to center field.
Photo: CNA
Both sides failed to score in the seventh inning and the game went into a tiebreaker in accordance with the WBSC’s rules for events at the U18 level and below.
In the top of the eighth inning, Hsu bunted and Germany pitcher Finn Niemeyer’s error allowed Taiwan’s runners on first and second base — Jiang Ting-yi and Chang Yi-an — to score.
Hsu, who made it to third base on the error, scored on Zeng Sheng-en’s single through the left side. Zeng scored after a bunt by Takislinian resulted in an error by Niemeyer’s replacement, Pepe Stockhaus.
Photo: CNA
Taiwan pitcher Lin Chun-hsi allowed no runs after being called up at the bottom of the seventh inning.
Taiwan’s win improved their standing in the Super Round after they lost only one game in the Opening Round, beaten by the US, who concluded the group stage undefeated after crushing Australia 11-1 on Tuesday.
Panama were the third team from Group B to advance.
In Group A yesterday, South Korea and South Africa resumed their game that was suspended due to rain, with South Korea winning 17-0 at Okinawa Cellular Stadium in Naha.
South Korea, ranked No. 4 in the world, made the Super Round along with world No. 1 Japan and No. 7 Puerto Rico.
Taiwan, No. 2 in the world, face South Korea today at Nishizaki Stadium, and Puerto Rico on Friday and Japan on Saturday at Okinawa Cellular Stadium.
The six teams in the Super Round are vying for spots in either the championship game or the bronze-medal game on Sunday.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
TOP OF THE TABLE: Evann Guessand put the visitors ahead early in the game and Flavius Daniliuc equalized before Youri Tielemans got the winner in the second half Aston Villa on Thursday extended their winning streak to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Basel in the UEFA Europa League to secure at least a playoff spot. Villa were tied with Olympique Lyonnais, who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1, and Midtjylland, 1-0 winners over Genk, atop the standings of the second-tier European competition on 15 points with five wins from six games. They have bounced back from a poor start to the season and are third in the Premier League, including a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday. At St Jakob-Park in Basel, summer signing Evann Guessand
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
RSS