Taiwan Suffers First Loss to Japan at 2024 WBSC Premier12
Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan’s national baseball team suffered its first loss at the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 on Saturday, falling 3-1 to the defending champions, Japan, at the Taipei Dome.
The loss puts Taiwan’s record at two wins and one loss in Group B of the Premier12 tournament, with hopes still alive for advancing to the Super Round. Taiwan had previously won two consecutive games but couldn’t secure a victory against Japan, a powerhouse in international baseball.
A Strong Start for Japan
The game began with a quick advantage for Japan. In the top of the first inning, Japanese batter Shota Morishita delivered a sacrifice fly, allowing Masayuki Kuwahara to score the opening run. Despite a strong start, Taiwan was unable to answer in the bottom of the inning, and the score remained at 1-0 in favor of Japan.
After a quiet second inning, Taiwan’s starting pitcher Chen Po-ching (陳柏清) struggled in the top of the third, as Shogo Sakakura crossed the plate to give Japan a 2-0 lead.
Japan Extends Lead with a Home Run
In the top of the fourth inning, Japan extended its lead to 3-0 when Sosuke Genda blasted a home run over the right field fence. Taiwan’s offense, however, couldn’t respond, and the team’s pitching staff began rotating heavily to try to contain Japan’s powerful lineup.
Taiwan’s Pitching Rotation
Taiwan’s manager Tseng Hao-ju (曾豪駒) utilized a total of six pitchers during the game. Chen Po-ching was replaced by Huang En-sih (黃恩賜) after three innings. Huang pitched another inning before being replaced by Wang Chih-hsuan (王志煊). The pitching carousel continued with Chiang Kuo-hao (江國豪) in the sixth inning and Chuang Hsin-yen (莊昕諺) entering in the eighth inning.
Taiwan’s pitchers showed resilience, especially in the later innings, when Chiang Kuo-hao managed to keep Japan’s batters scoreless until the eighth.
Taiwan’s First Run of the Game
Taiwan’s breakthrough came in the bottom of the seventh inning when Dai Pei-fong (戴培峰) homered deep into right field, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Despite several efforts to close the gap, Taiwan couldn’t string together the runs needed to challenge Japan.
Post-Game Reactions and Looking Ahead
After the game, Taiwan’s manager Tseng Hao-ju took responsibility for the loss but praised his players for holding their own against a top-tier team like Japan. He emphasized the importance of staying focused as Taiwan looks to recover in the remainder of the tournament.
“We faced a tough opponent today, but I believe we performed well under the circumstances. We will continue to push forward,” Tseng said.
Chen Po-ching, Taiwan’s starting pitcher, expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to open such a critical game, acknowledging Japan’s strength. “They’re a strong team, and we’ll learn from this experience as we prepare for our next match,” Chen stated.
Taiwan’s Upcoming Match and Group B Standings
Taiwan’s next match will be against Australia on Sunday at the Taipei Dome. Taiwan’s position in Group B remains competitive, but they will need to win their remaining games to secure a spot in the Super Round, which will take place in Japan.
In other Group B action on Saturday, South Korea defeated the Dominican Republic 9-6, while Cuba edged out Australia 4-3 in a thrilling contest at Tianmu Stadium.
Group B Standings After Saturday’s Games:
| Team | W-L | Runs Scored | Runs Allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 3-0 | 10 | 2 |
| Taiwan | 2-1 | 9 | 4 |
| South Korea | 2-1 | 12 | 7 |
| Dominican Republic | 1-2 | 7 | 10 |
| Australia | 1-2 | 8 | 12 |
| Cuba | 1-2 | 8 | 10 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What was the final score of the Taiwan vs Japan game in the 2024 WBSC Premier12?
A1: Japan defeated Taiwan 3-1 in their first match of Group B at the 2024 WBSC Premier12.
Q2: How many pitchers did Taiwan use during the game?
A2: Taiwan used six pitchers throughout the game, with Chen Po-ching starting and Chuang Hsin-yen being the last pitcher on the mound.
Q3: Who hit Taiwan’s only home run during the game?
A3: Dai Pei-fong hit the lone home run for Taiwan in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Q4: When is Taiwan’s next game in the Premier12?
A4: Taiwan will face Australia on Sunday at the Taipei Dome.
Q5: What are the top teams from Group B in the 2024 WBSC Premier12?
A5: Japan and South Korea are currently the top teams in Group B, with both having won their games.
