Chen Kai Sheng leads Chinese Taipei to victory

Chinese Taipei is off a strong start. The hosts defeated Cuba, 4-2, in front of a sell-out crowd of 7,912 to close Day 1. Starting pitcher Chen Kai Sheng went five innings and earned the win.

The game was preceded by a ceremony during which WBSC Secretary General Beng Choo Low and Executive Director Michael Schmidt declared the tournament open.

WBSC Executive Director Michael Schmidt during the Opening Ceremony

Chinese Taipei played excellent baseball behind Chen Kai Sheng, who showed a command of his secondary pitches that rarely is seen in this age category.

Cuba’s Alejandro Prieto tools almost matched Chen’s, but his control was not quite as spectacular.

A two-out single by third baseman Huang Tien Szu put Chinese Taipei on the scoreboard with the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first.

Chinese Taipei broke the score open in the bottom of the third on another two-out single by Huang Tien Szu. It was only the second hit of the night but produced two runs.

Cuba got to Chen Kai Sheng in the top of the fourth with three hits, including a double by third baseman Alejandro Cruz. The comeback was just one run short.

Chen allowed two more hits in the top of the fifth, balked the runners to second and third, then escaped the jam as he got third baseman Alejandro Cruz to ground out to third.

Chen Kai Sheng helped himself batting in an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth.

Lin Cheng Yu pitched a perfect sixth inning to seal the win for Chinese Taipei.