Venezuela shock Chinese Taipei to earn first win
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<p>Venezuela managed to shut out No. 2 Chinese Taipei <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://x.com/WBSC/status/1817971994559930784" target="_blank">3-0</a> at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024, where a group of players arrived at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay just hours before their second game on Monday, despite missing their opening game due to severe travel issues.</p>
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<p>Both teams missed multiple scoring opportunities, including Chinese Taipei's chance with one out and runners on the corners in the top of the fifth. Two-way phenom Frandelis Garcia secured the final two outs to end the threat, and Venezuela scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the fifth.</p>
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<p>Yu-Ying Hsieh led off with a single but was the first out trying to steal second. Venezuela's starter Angelica Ledezma walked Shih Yun Lee, and Hsiao-Mei Chen singled to bring her to third. Chen stole second, but Lee became the second out at the plate. Chiao Yun Huang singled to keep Chinese Taipei's at-bat alive. Ledezma then walked the bases loaded but got out of the inning by striking out Pei Chen Huang.</p>
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<p>In the bottom half of the frame, Mariana Valdez reached Chinese Taipei's starter Ching Huang with a one-out infield single. Yohelis Colina sent a liner over the head of right fielder Pei Chen Huang for a stand-up double, bringing Valdez to third. Huang then got a deep fly from Yakari Molina and doubled up Valdez at the plate to end the inning.</p>
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<p>Chinese Taipei lost another runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth. Wen-Ching Hsieh walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. She overran second and became the second out after a trap.</p>
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<p>Venezuela loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth on a pair of hits and an error. Shrishna Arciniega lined out to first to end the inning.</p>
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<p>Chia-Yu Lin led off the fifth with a hit. Chinese Taipei bunted her to second, and Lin reached third on Shih-Yun Lee's one-out single.</p>
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<p>Superstar Frandelis Garcia took the mound with runners at the corners. She retired Shih-Yun Lee on a pop to second and Hsiao-Mei Chen on a fly to shallow left field to end the threat.</p>
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<p>Venezuela took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Mariana Valdez led off with a single, stole second, and reached third on a wild pitch. Ching Huang got the first out on a pop to second, then intentionally walked Molina. Migrely Angulo bunted to the mound, and Valdez scored the go-ahead run on the error.</p>
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<p>Yu-Chuan Tu relieved Huang. Ruclaireth Tovar singled on her fourth pitch, and Angulo scored when a bad hop sent the ball beyond left fielder Yen Tzu Hung. Angulo reached third on the play and scored on Mariana Natera's sacrifice fly.</p>
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<p>Chinese Taipei got their first hit against Garcia when Yi-Hsuan Chiu singled to lead off the seventh. Garcia retired the side in order, getting the final two outs on strikes to end the game.</p>
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<p> On Day 3, Venezuela (1-1) will face No. 1 Japan at 15:00, while Chinese Taipei (0-2 and facing elimination) will play Mexico at 11:00. All times local. </p>
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