Taiwan Advances to Premier12 Final Against Japan Despite Saturday Loss

Introduction: Taiwan Makes It to Premier12 Final

Taiwan has secured a spot in the final of the 2024 Premier12 baseball tournament, despite suffering a 9-6 loss to defending champion Japan on Saturday. The game, held during the Premier12 Super Round, saw Taiwan challenge Japan once again after a tense back-and-forth match that ended in defeat. However, thanks to their superior Team Quality Balance (TQB) calculation, Taiwan had already locked in their place in the final, regardless of the loss.

The Road to the Final: How Taiwan Secured Their Spot

With the United States defeating Venezuela earlier on Saturday, three out of the four countries in the Premier12 semi-finals were tied at one win and two losses. Despite the loss to Japan, Taiwan emerged victorious in the TQB calculation, which uses a formula based on runs scored per inning played at bat, minus runs allowed per inning played on defense.

This statistical edge gave Taiwan the advantage over the United States and Venezuela, ensuring they would advance to their first Premier12 final in 32 years. Taiwan will now face Japan for the third time in the tournament’s final, although Japan has won both of their previous matchups.

Saturday’s Game: Japan Dominates Early

The game against Japan started with a bang when Japanese batter Itsuki Murabayashi hit a home run on the second pitch of Taiwan’s starting pitcher, Chen Po-ching (陳柏清). This early lead stunned Taiwan and set the tone for the rest of the game. Murabayashi’s homer was followed by consecutive runs from Toshiya Sato and Ryosuke Tatsumi, putting Japan up 3-0 after the first inning.

Taiwan’s Chiang Kuo-hao (江國豪) replaced Chen on the mound, but Japan’s Shota Morishita added another run, extending Japan’s lead to 4-0. Taiwan attempted a comeback in the third inning, with Lin Li (林立) driving in their first run to narrow the score to 4-1.

A Struggling Comeback: Taiwan’s Efforts Fall Short

Despite Taiwan’s best efforts to close the gap, such as a rally in the fifth inning that brought the score to 4-3, Japan quickly regained their momentum. The Japanese team’s powerful offense kept them in control, adding more runs and pushing the score out of reach.

Taiwan’s offensive efforts continued, with a run scored in the top of the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Japan’s dominance, resulting in a 9-6 loss. Taiwan will now prepare for their third meeting with Japan on Sunday in the Premier12 final.

Controversy: Taiwan’s Pitching Change Draws Japan’s Ire

Before Saturday’s game, controversy stirred when Japan lodged an official complaint with the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). Taiwan had replaced their original starter, Lin Yu-min (林昱珉), with Chen after learning that the U.S. victory over Venezuela had already secured Taiwan’s spot in the final.

Japan deemed the pitching change unsportsmanlike, prompting the WBSC to issue a fine to Taiwan for the unexpected decision. The fine was set at US$2,000, as confirmed by the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association. Despite the controversy, Taiwan’s focus remains on Sunday’s final, where they will have another chance to take on Japan for the coveted Premier12 title.

Table: Premier12 Super Round Results

Note: Taiwan secured their place in the final based on their higher TQB despite the loss to Japan.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the Premier12?
The Premier12 is an international baseball tournament organized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), featuring the world’s top 12 baseball teams. It serves as a qualification tournament for the Olympics.

Q2: How did Taiwan make it to the final of the Premier12?
Despite losing to Japan 9-6, Taiwan secured a spot in the final thanks to their superior Team Quality Balance (TQB) calculation, outperforming both the U.S. and Venezuela.

Q3: Who will Taiwan face in the Premier12 final?
Taiwan will face Japan in the Premier12 final, marking their third meeting in the tournament. Japan has won both of their previous encounters.

Q4: Why did Japan criticize Taiwan’s pitching change?
Japan complained about Taiwan replacing their starting pitcher, Lin Yu-min, with Chen Po-ching after learning that Taiwan had already secured a place in the final. Japan considered this move unsportsmanlike, and the WBSC fined Taiwan for the decision.

Q5: When is the Premier12 final match?
The Premier12 final will take place on Sunday, with Taiwan aiming to challenge Japan for the championship title.

Conclusion: Taiwan Eyes Premier12 Title Against Japan

Taiwan’s historic run to the Premier12 final, despite a tough loss to Japan, has garnered significant attention. The team’s performance, coupled with their statistical edge in the TQB calculation, secured them a well-deserved place in the final. Now, Taiwan looks forward to their final showdown with Japan, aiming to claim their first Premier12 title in over three decades.