TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan was defeated by host Japan 0–13 on Friday in a seven-inning game at Tokyo Dome during the World Baseball Classic.
Japan recorded 13 hits, including a grand slam by Ohtani Shohei. Taiwan’s Chang Yu-cheng (張育成) recorded the team’s only hit in the sixth inning, according to LTN Sports and CNA.
Taiwan, advancing from the qualifying round, is in Pool C with Japan, South Korea, Australia, and the Czech Republic. Taiwan started the tournament with a 0–3 loss to Australia, according to CTEE.
Following the Japan game, Taiwan will face the Czech Republic on Saturday and South Korea on Sunday. The top two teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals.
Game highlights
- Top of 1st: Ohtani hit a leadoff double, Japan added a run later in the inning
- Top of 2nd: Japan scored 10 runs, including Ohtani’s grand slam,Taiwan replaced pitcher Cheng Hao-jun with Hu Chih-wei (胡智為)
- Top of 3rd: Japan added 3 runs, Taiwan brought in Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸)
- Bottom of 6th: Taiwan’s Chang Yu-cheng recorded the team’s first hit
- Bottom of 7th: Taiwan retired by Japan’s pitcher Sogaya Ryuhei; game ended 0–13
Full recap
Top of the 1st inning (Taiwan 0, Japan 0)
Taiwan’s starting pitcher Cheng Hao-jun (鄭浩均) gave up a leadoff double to Ohtani Shohei. Ohtani hit the first pitch he saw and reached second base safely.
Masataka Yoshida later walked, advancing to first base without hitting, putting runners on first and third. Cheng then struck out Okamoto Kazuma to end the inning.
Bottom of the 1st (Taiwan 0, Japan 0)
Japan starter Yamamoto Yoshinobu retired Taiwan in order, with all three batters out without scoring. Cheng Tsung-che (鄭宗哲) grounded out to first, Stuart Fairchild struck out, and Lin An-ko (林安可) grounded out to third.
Top of the 2nd (Taiwan 0, Japan 10)
Japan scored 10 runs in the inning with a combination of walks, hits, and a grand slam by Ohtani. Yoshida, Murakami Munetaka, Genda Sosuke, and Wakatsuki Kenya each recorded hits.
Taiwan replaced pitcher Cheng Hao-chun with Hu Chih-wei (胡智為) during the inning.
Bottom of the 2nd (Taiwan 0, Japan 10)
Yamamoto walked Chang Yu-cheng, allowing him to reach first base without hitting. Giljegiljaw Kungkuan (吉力吉撈・鞏冠) grounded into a double play for the second out, and Wu Nien-ting (吳念庭) grounded out to second, leaving one runner on base.
Top of the 3rd (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Taiwan brought in a new pitcher, Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸). Japan continued its offensive rally, with Suzuki Seiya, Yoshida, Okamoto, and Genda each getting hits, increasing Japan’s lead.
Bottom of the 3rd (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Japan’s starting pitcher Yamamoto allowed Taiwan’s Lin Chia-cheng (林家正) to reach first base on a fielding error. Cheng Tsung-che and Fairchild then walked, loading the bases.
Japan replaced Yamamoto with pitcher Fujihira Shoma. Lin An-ko struck out to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded.
Top of the 4th (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Taiwan’s third pitcher, Sha, retired Japan in order. Ohtani was retired on a catch for the first out.
Kondo Kensuke hit a ground ball but was thrown out at first for the second out. Suzuki was then retired on a catch to end the inning.
Bottom of the 4th (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Japan brought in a new pitcher, Miyagi Hiroya. Chang Yu-cheng hit a ground ball to the shortstop and was thrown out at first for the first out.
Kungkuan drew a walk to reach first base. Wu Nien-ting struck out for the second out, and Chiang Kun-yu (江坤宇) struck out to end the inning.
Top of the 5th (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Taiwan brought in a new pitcher, Chang Chun-wei (張峻瑋). Yoshida was retired on a fly ball to center field for the first out.
Okamoto flew out to left field for the second out. Murakami flew out to right field for the third out, ending the inning.
Bottom of the 5th (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Japan’s third pitcher, Miyagi, faced Taiwan with runners on first and second base. Fairchild hit a foul home run.
The no-score ruling was upheld after Taiwan requested a video review. Lin An-ko struck out, leaving the bases loaded.
Top of the 6th (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Taiwan also brought in a new catcher, Chiang Shao-hung (蔣少宏), as its fourth pitcher Chang Chun-wei took the mound. Maki Shugo flew out to right field for the first out.
Genda hit a ground ball to right field for a single, putting a runner on first. Morishita Shota hit a ground ball toward the shortstop that resulted in a double play, ending the inning.
Bottom of the 6th (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Japan brought in a new pitcher, Kitayama Koki, and changed catchers, putting in Sakamoto Seishiro. Chang Yu-cheng hit a single to right field, marking Taiwan’s first hit of the game and putting a runner on first.
Kungkuan struck out for the first out. Wu Nien-ting hit a ground ball to second base and was out at shortstop, but reached first safely, leaving a runner on base with two outs.
Chiang Kun-yu (江坤宇) grounded out to first to end the inning.
Top of the 7th (Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Taiwan replaced Chang Chun-wei. After a walk and a couple of outs, Taiwan brought in Lin Shih-hsiang (林詩翔), who held Japan scoreless for the inning.
Bottom of the 7th (Final – Taiwan 0, Japan 13)
Japan brought in a new pitcher, Sogaya Ryuhei, and made outfield adjustments. Chiang Shao-hung hit a foul fly ball behind home plate and was caught for the first out.
Chen Chen-wei (陳晨威) flew out to left field for the second out, and Cheng Tsung-che struck out for the third out. The game ended with Taiwan losing 0–13 to Japan.
