Team Taiwan gave MLB All-Stars the sternest challenge yet in this fourth game of the series.
The visitors were able to hang on and squeeze past the host for the 3-2 win at Kaohsiung City’s Cheng Ching Lake Stadium on Sat. (Nov. 5th).
Despite the 4th straight wins for the Major Leaguers, the result showed that Taiwanese baseballers are making fast adjustments and determined to compete on the same level as the MLB team.
Handcuffed by Taiwanese starting pitcher Ni Fu-Te with his unorthodox lefty delivery, the visiting All-Stars were limited to only a run on two hits through to the 3rd inning.
The host scored a run on three hits against MLB starting pitcher Dillon Gee (New York Mets) in the 2nd frame. Both sides went into the 6th inning knotted up at 1-1.
After Ni was taken out (due to pitch count limitation), the visitors got to reliever Chen Yu-Hsun with a walk and two hits.
The key blow came from Michael Morse (Washington Nationals) with a liner to right field that drove in two runs for the 3-1 lead.
Team Taiwan clawed back with a run in the next frame to make it 3-2, but could not equalize in the 8th and 9th inning and suffered the one-run defeat.
For Taiwan’s starting pitcher Ni, it was a worthy performance.
The crafty left-hander did a great job with his 3 and 1/3 innings of work, giving up only two hits and one lone run.
Ni was called up to the MLB Detroit Tigers in 2010, nailing down a regular role in relief, but has spent this past season in Triple-A.
With the excellent display in this starting assignment, Ni would surely gain much attention and a favorable consideration by Tigers manager Jim Leyland for putting together the pitching roster for spring training.
Ni is popular with local fans from his days as a star pitcher with Taiwan’s Chinatrust Whales club (CPBL pro League), and was the Strikeout King for the 2009 season.
He made history as the first man to make the jump from Taiwan’s pro baseball team (Chinatrust Whales) and break into the MLB.
All other Taiwanese players making it to the U.S, major league level (such as Wang Chien-Ming, Kuo Hong-Chih, and Chen Chin-Feng, etc.) were signed to contract from amateur ranks.
About the outcome of Game 4, MLB manager Bruce Bochy said, “It was the best game so far in the series. It could have gone either way, and they played very well and pitched well. It also was a great crowd. It was a lot of fun out there today. ”
Robinson Cano of the Yankees, with a double during the key rally in the 6th inning, said about the improvement of Taiwanese players, “They’re getting better and better with each game. They pitched very well today and they play the game the right way. That’s what I really like. They don’t take anything for granted and they do everything the right way.”
The final and 5th game of this series will take place on Sunday, Nov. 6th, also with the afternoon starting time.
After the conclusion of the contest, the MLB All-Stars will depart on Sunday evening at the Kaohsiung International Airport for returning to U.S.
