30/07/2023 2 Minute Read

Chinese Taipei overcome Mexico and three-hour rain delay

The game started at 14:30 local time. Chinese Taipei needed one out to win at 16:52. They were stopped by heavy rain and needed to wait until 19:47. Relief pitcher Ping-Yu Lin used three pitches to retire Max Ortega and end the game.

Chinese Taipei started the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup winning in dramatic fashion against Japan. The day after they came within three strikes from winning, but heavy rain forced the umpiring crew to call the game at 16:52 (local time). The game resumed at 19:45, with Chinese Taipei leading 5-3 and Mexico's Max Ortega at bat with two outs and two runners on.

Reliever Ping-Yu Lin threw two balls. Ortega hit a comebacker to the mound on the third pitch and Lin ended the game with an easy throw to first.

Mexico took the lead in the bottom of the second. First baseman Carlos Dustewitz set up runners at first and third with the first Mexican hit in the tournament. Catcher Maximiliano Ortega hit a chopper to shortstop. Hao-Huan Luo couldn't complete the double play, and Santiago Garcia scored the go-ahead run from third. Starter Sheng-Kai Gau got out of the innings, striking out right fielder Angel Ponce.

Chinese Taipei tied the game in the top of the fourth. First baseman Ya-En Chiu singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Second baseman Sheng-Rang Wang hit a hard chopper to second base that Rodrigo Lopez could stop but not handle, and Chiu scored from second.

Chun Han Tie took over for Shen-Kai Gau, who moved from the mound to right field. In the top of the fifth, Gau gave Chinese Taipei the lead with a two-run homer off Joaquin Duarte.

Mexico wouldn't surrender. Catcher Max Ortega hit a solo homer in the bottom half of the frame, making it a one-run game.

Chinese Taipei added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Under light rain and with runners at second and third, right fielder Qi-En Zheng pushed a bunt to shortstop. It turned out to be a two-RBI single.

Mexico loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth. Chinese Taipei handed the ball to Ping-Yu Lin, their third pitcher. Durstewitz went down 0-2 in the count, then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make it 5-3.

Max Ortega was ready to step to the box with runners at the corners. He represented the winning run but would need to wait 170 minutes.

After the wait, Ortega looked at two balls and swung at the third pitch by Lin. The ball wouldn't go beyond the pitcher.

World No. 4 Chinese Taipei will face No. 19 Germany in the final game of Day 4. No. 3 Mexico will play No. 9 Australia in the morning.