Taiwan's 'Miracle Happened' Great Unexpected Victory over 'World' Japan

Nov 24, 2024

Lin Ja-jung (right) rejoicing after hitting a preemptive home run. Photo =WBSC

A baseball fan holding a Taiwanese flag and cheering at Tokyo Dome on the 24th. AFP Yonhap News

A miracle happened. Taiwan defeated Japan to win the top of the international competition.

Taiwan's national baseball team beat Japan 4-0 in the final of WBSC"Premier 12" held at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on the 24th.

This is the first time Taiwan has won the 'Premier12' competition. In 2015, South Korea beat the U.S. to win the first competition, and Japan beat South Korea to win the second competition in 2019. In the first competition in five years, Taiwan won its first championship trophy by defeating Japan, the defending champion, who was considered the top candidate.

린위민. 사진=WBSC

At the same time, he stopped Japan from winning 28 consecutive international competitions. Japan's adult men's baseball team, dubbed the `Samurai Japan', continued its streak of 27 consecutive wins without losing a single game from the 2019 'Premier12' Super Round Mexico match to the Tokyo Olympics and the World Baseball Classic (WBC). If he had won this final, he would have won 'Premier12' for the second time in a row, won 28 consecutive international competitions, and swept all international competitions, but he was frustrated.

Taiwan, which was embroiled in a non-manner controversy due to its replacement after the starting pitcher's notice ahead of the final round match against Japan on the 23rd, started with Lin Yu-min as the finalist. As an Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguer, South Korea also faced off in this group stage following last year's Hangzhou Asian Games and failed to completely break it down.

Taiwan National Baseball Team in the final. Photo =WBSC

Taiwan put forward Lin Yu-min and Japan put forward the Yomiuri Giants ace Shosei Dogo. The initial flow was a tight pitching match. In particular, Taiwan was able to confirm the tremendous concentration of fielders with suffocation defense regardless of the infield and outfield. The center line defenders blew themselves up and caught the ball that could escape the infield, and the ball that stretched out to the outfield succeeded in super-catching with quick judgment and response.

Taiwan, which showed great defensive concentration, destroyed Dogo in the top of the fifth inning. Leadoff hitter Ryleen (Lyn Ja-jung) hit a first-time superior solo home run over the right fence. The runners on first and second bases after 1 out. This time, Chen Jie-chen hit a superior three-run home run. He scored four runs with two home runs in an instant. Taiwan's bench is starting to go wild.

Since then, while Japan has repeatedly missed chances, Taiwan has continued to shake its opponent hard. After the leadoff hitter Jang Kun-yu's double in the top of the eighth inning, he made a ground ball by a follow-up hitter. However, Japan deployed Fujihira Shoma to put out the urgent fire.

a continuous four-point lead. Taiwan's stellar pitching relay by the pitchers stood out. Lin Yu-min allowed only one hit in four innings and went down without losing a point, followed by Jang-i with three scoreless innings. Chen Kwan-wi, who took the mound as the third pitcher, completely blocked the Japanese lineup in the eighth inning, followed by Lin Kai-way in the ninth inning. Lin Kai-wei allowed a hit to leadoff hitter Tatsumi Ryosuke, but ended the game without a run to secure Taiwan's victory.

Chun Zeshen hit a three-run home run. Photo =WBSC

Dogo Shosei gets frustrated after allowing a home run. Photo =WBSC

Taiwan, which belonged to the 'Death Group' at the WBC last year and suffered the humiliation of having to play the next WBC regional qualifying round along with the elimination of the group stage, became the main character of this tournament. The start was against Korea. He got off to a fresh start by beating South Korea, his first opponent in the group stage, 6-3 at home Taipei Dome. At that time, Taiwan won a big victory against Ko Young-pyo, who was Korea's starting pitcher, by scoring six runs from the beginning, including Chen Chun-wei's grand slam and Chen Jie-hsuen's two-run home run.

Taiwan, which advanced to the Super Round over South Korea, advanced to the final with Seung-woon, causing an unusual event to beat Japan.

The Premier 12 baseball team played against Taiwan at Taipei Dome Stadium in Taiwan on the 13th. Taiwan's Chen Chunwei hit a grand slam against Ko Young-pyo in the second inning. Taipei (Taiwan) = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.11.13/

Taiwan is considered one of Asia's leading baseball powers along with Japan and South Korea, but its performance in international competitions was not very good. The gold medal at the Doha Asian Games in 2006 was the best, and in the Asian Games, it was repeatedly behind South Korea and only won silver and bronze medals. It has never ranked in the top three in the WBC or Premier 12, and the silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics was the last.

Taiwan, where these players participated in the international competition again as a member of the national team, actively sent promising players from the country to the major leagues to foster them, confirmed their international competitiveness through this competition. The level of the domestic league is evaluated several times lower than that of Japan and Korea, but high-quality prospects playing in the U.S. minor leagues and Japanese professional baseball are growing rapidly, not only natural generational changes but also performance.

youll@sportschosun.com

Taiwan's 'Miracle Happened' Great Unexpected Victory over 'World' Japan

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