Chinese Taipei tops rival Japan to capture bronze at U-15 Baseball World Cup

DAVID, Panama – Ping-En Wu’s two-run triple in the fifth inning proved to be the difference for the Chinese Taipei National Team as they defeated rival Japan, 6-3, to finish third in the world and earn the bronze medal at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2018.

The story of the game was Chinese Taipei starting pitcher Hao-Yu Lee who came within an out of tossing complete-game, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three to record the win.

Japan managed a two-out RBI double off the bat of Seiya Fukuhara in the seventh to make it 6-3 before Ping-En Wu came on to retire the final batter of the game, leaving runners on second and third.

Japan starting pitcher Yuito Suzuki took the loss last just two innings on the mound.

Chinese Taipei’s third-place finish matches their best-ever result at the U-15 level. Chinese Taipei won the bronze medal at the U-15 Baseball World Cup in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 2012.

Japan’s fourth-place finish is a setback from the nation’s silver medal performance at the 2016 edition on home soil in Iwaki.