03/08/2019 2 Minute Read

Kuo Chen An homers, Chinese Taipei comes from behind

It was only a warm-up game for Sunday U-12 Baseball World Cup, but Chinese Taipei didn’t like falling behind 6-0 on home turf. The hosts came back with a strong offensive performance and outscored Venezuela

Trailing 6-0, Chinese Taipei came from behind thanks to a strong offensive performance and defeated Venezuela 14-6. A three-run home run by Kuo Chen An was the turning point.

Jiang Ting Yi and catcher Cyuan Ruei were off a bad start for the hosts. One run scored on a passed ball and one scored on a wild pitch. Designated hitter Yoneiker Lugo then got to Jiang with a double off the wall in right field to extend Venezuela’s lead to 3-0.

Things didn’t improve for the hosts with reliever Chen Yu An on the mound. The newcomer could get only one out and allowed two more runs on a single by catcher Johan Fernandez.
The ball then went to Yu Yan Cheng who allowed one more run on a wild pitch. Yu eventually got out of a bases-loaded jam when he struck out centre fielder Franklyn Rojas.

Chinese Taipei got to Venezuela’s starter Rainner Godoy in the bottom of the third. Slugging third baseman Huang Tien Szu singled to put the first run on the scoreboard and right fielder Kuo Chen An launched a three-run homer to make it a two-run game.

Venezuela gave the call to Yeferson Gonzalez. The reliever walked Chen Kai Sheng and then balked him to second. That was all for Gonzalez and the ball went to Kennew Blanco. He also got started with a walk and then allowed a two-RBI double to second baseman Wu Yi Rui that tied the game.

Blanco got out of the inning, but in the bottom of the fourth loaded the bases on two walks and a defensive error. Venezuela gave the call to Sander Trujillo who also got started with a walk, thus giving the first lead of the night to Chinese Taipei. Trujillo got the first out on strikes, then was hurt by another defensive error on a grounder by left fielder Chen Kai Sheng. Pitcher Yu Yan Cheng then doubled in the gap to left-centre to make it 10-6 and send Trujillo to the showers.

Christopher Alvarado took the mound but couldn’t stop Chinese Taipei. A double by centre fielder Chiang Tsung Chun and a groundout added four more runs.

Yu Yan Cheng, the third pitcher for Chinese Taipei, earned the win pitching four innings and allowing only two hits.