21/10/2022 2 Minute Read

Ruben Salinas' pinch-hit single drives Mexico's 2-1 win over Chinese Taipei

With runners at the corners and two outs in the eighth, Salinas was all over a hanging breaking ball and turned it into the winning hit. Manuel Castro worked the bottom half of the frame and closed the game with a strike out.

Ruben Salinas drove the offence for World No. 4 Mexico, getting the team out of the tiebreak with a 2-1 win against hosts Chinese Taipei in the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup on Friday.

The 19-year-old outfielder of San Diego Padres stepped to the box in the bottom of the eight with runners at the corners and two outs. He worked the count to 3-1, then was all over a hanging breaking ball and turned into a clean single to left field, which led tie-break runner Jose Zepeda to score. Manuel Castro retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame

Chinese Taipei had an early lead against Mexico's starter Jordan Suarez as second baseman Li-I Wei singled with two outs in the bottom of the first and right fielder Song En Tseng doubled to make it 1-0

After failing to score against submarine Yu-hung Chen, Mexico got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth against flame thrower Zhong-Ao Zhuang Chen. Christopher Ecarrega singled, advancing on a wild pitch. He got to third on a base hit by pinch hitter Hugo Sanchez and scored on a base hit by Jose Zepeda despite a diving attempt by third baseman Teng Yu Wang.

Chinese Taipei were within 90 feet of the win in the bottom of the seventh. Reliever Manuel Castro took the mound with runners at first and second, walked the bases loaded, but got out of the jam blowing three 95-mile (or 152 kilometres) heaters past Teng Yu Wang.

After Salinas gave Mexico the lead, Chinese Taipei advanced the tie-break runners on a predictable sacrifice bunt, thus forcing an intentional walk for slugger Song En Tseng.

Jyun Siang Yang sent a towering flight to shallow centre field, then lead tie-break runner Teng Yu Wang got held. Castro got pinch hitter Sheng Hao Chang looking at another heater and the game ended.

World No. 4 Mexico has the chance to play for the third consecutive time in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup final. They would need a win against No. 1 Japan in their final game of the Super Round, while No. 2 Chinese Taipei needs a win against No. 10 Australia to enter a three-way tie in second place.