18U BWC: USA tops Chinese Taipei to stay in Race

06/09/2012

Seoul (Korea). Team USA defeated Chinese Taipei 5-1 on Thursday afternoon at Mokdong Stadium. Both teams are now tied in the second-round standings with 2-2 records. The United States broke a tie in the third inning and never looked back in a game with a combined 23 hits, just three walks and six runs. Stephen Gonsalves went the distance to lay the groundwork for the victory.

Seoul (Korea). Team USA defeated Chinese Taipei 5-1 on Thursday afternoon at Mokdong Stadium. Both teams are now tied in the second-round standings with 2-2 records. The United States broke a tie in the third inning and never looked back in a game with a combined 23 hits, just three walks and six runs. Stephen Gonsalves went the distance to lay the groundwork for the victory.

Following their tough loss on Wednesday evening against Canada where they didn’t score any run in ten innings, the US squad came through right in the bottom of the first. Dominic Nunez reached with a one-out single moved to third on a passed ball and a groundout before crossing the plate on a single by Reese McGuire.

The defending champion answered in the top of the second. Chih Chieh Su worked a 0-2 count into a walk to lead off the frame. A sac bunt by Chia Wei Yang moved him over to second and the third batter in the inning, Chun Hsiang Chan brought him home with a single to right.

The tie lasted only a couple of outs. Again it was the combination of Dominic Nunez and Reese McGuire, which gave the US the lead in the bottom of the third, as the third baseman scored from third on a single by the left fielder. Chinese Taipei’s defense fell apart in the fifth, giving the team from manager Scott Brosius some insurance. Dominic Nunez and Reese McGuire scored on a throwing error and a wild pitch. A RBI single by Cavan Biggio made it 5-1 to cap a three-run rally.

This was all Stephen Gonsalves needed to bring the win home. The left-hander allowed one run on eight hits and two walks in nine innings, striking out four. On the opposing side starter Hsiang Hao Yang lasted just two innings, issuing one unearned run on four hits. Reliever Cheng Hsien Lin took the loss, being responsible for three runs on six hits.