TAICHUNG, Taiwan — In a game Canada manager Ernie Whitt described as one of the most exciting games he’s been a part of, Chinese Taipei and Canada produced 17 runs on 25 hits, 5 of which home runs, as Canada topped the host nation, 9-8, in Opening Round action of the 2015 WBSC Premier12.
The more than 13,000 fans at Intercontinental Stadium first erupted in the second inning when Chun-Shiu Chen launched a 2-run home run off Canada starter Shawn Hill.
In the fourth inning, Canada’s Jordan Lennerton knocked a 2-run double to help his nation move out to a 4-2 lead, but Chinese Taipei tied the game in the fifth inning when Po-Jung Wang delivered Chinese Taipei’s second 2-run home run of the game.
In the top of the sixth inning, Brock Kjeldgaard blasted Canada’s second 2-run double to move ahead of Chinese Taipei, 7-4.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, 2010 U-18 Baseball World Cup MVP Tsu-Wei Lin hit a solo home run to cut Canada’s lead to 7-5.
In the eighth inning, Canada’s Tyler O’Neil and Rene Tosoni each hit solo home runs, making the score 9-5.
As Chinese Taipei rallied to bring the score to 9-8 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Canada outfielders Tyson Gillies and Tosoni combined to catch a long fly ball, when the ball popped out of Gillies’ glove as he slammed into the outfield fence, but Tosoni, who was providing back up, alertly secured the ball before it hit the ground — killing the rally after the play was reviewed by umpires, who confirmed the out.
With the win, 3-0 Canada sits atop the standing in Group A, while Chinese Taipei drops to 1-2, risking not being among the top four in the group who will advance to the quarterfinals.
In other action in Group A on Friday, Cuba defeated Puerto Rico, 8-7 (10 innings), in the first Premier12 game to go into extra-innings, while the Netherlands easily defeated Italy 16-1 (7 innings) on the back of Curt Smith’s home run and six RBIs.
