After contrasting results in their last Super Round games, no. 2 ranked USA and no. 4 ranked Chinese Taipei will clash at the 2019 WBSC Premier12 on Friday.
The US fell
2-1 against no. 7 ranked Australia on Wednesday, and enter their final Super Round
game with a 1-3 record. Mark Payton gave the US late hope with a solo homer,
but the Australian bullpen held firm.
Chinese
Taipei’s Super Round record sits at 1-2 after an impressive 7-0 shut-out over a
previously undefeated Korea. Yi Chang tossed 6.2 scoreless innings against
Korea to claim his second win of the tournament.
In World
Cup and Olympic competition, the US are undefeated in five games against
Chinese Taipei. The last meeting between the two teams was at the 2011 World
Cup, with the US winning 15-1.
Parker
Dunshee will toe the rubber for the US, as he makes his second start of the
Premier12. Dunshee tossed 2.1 scoreless innings against the Dominican Republic in
Group A. The US offence has belted 13 home runs in six games at the 2019
Premier12.
Chinese
Taipei will send Sheng-Feng Wu to the mound, as the right-hander makes his
first appearance at the Premier12. Chin-Lung Hu leads Chinese Taipei’s offence,
picking up six hits in his last four games.
First pitch
from the Tokyo Dome is scheduled for 12:00 JST.