《TAIPEI TIMES》Taiwan beat Cuba after they advance into Super Round
Taiwan’s Dai Pei-fong bats during their Premier12 Group B game against Cuba at the Taipei Dome yesterday. Photo: CNA
Staff writer, with CNA
Taiwan last night defeated Cuba 2-0 in their World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 Group B game at the Taipei Dome and finished the group second.
At the Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium, South Korea yesterday defeated Australia 5-2, while Japan last night won 11-3 against the Dominican Republic.
On Sunday, Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome to advance to the Super Round.
Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champions and Group B winners Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the off.
After taking a walk to first base, Taiwan’s Chen Chieh-hsien stole second before Tseng Song-en drew a walk to first in the top of the first inning.
Chen then scored on an RBI from Pan Chieh-kai to put Taiwan ahead 1-0.
Taiwan made it 2-0 in the top of the second after Li Kai-wei made it home on an RBI from Lin Li.
However, Australia’s Solomon Maguire scored the game’s first home run with no one on to reduce the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third.
Taiwan managed to keep Australia scoreless through the next four innings and take a 5-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Taiwan loaded the first and second bases with Chen Chen-wei and Chang Cheng-yu with one out.
Lin then sent a ball flying for a three-run homer to bump the score to 8-1 in favor of Taiwan.
Taiwan’s advantage seemed to fire up Australia as Robbie Perkins sent a one-run homer over the fence at the bottom of the seventh.
In the top of the ninth, Taiwan cranked up the heat to lead 11-2 after pinch hitter Giljegiljaw Kungkuan fired a home run to deep left field with two men on.
With Sunday’s win, Taiwan finished second in Group B and secured a place in the Premier12’s Super Round alongside Japan, as well as the top two teams from Group A, the US and Venezuela.
新聞來源:TAIPEI TIMES