Chinese Taipei take home opener against Korea in front of full house

In the most electrifying setting of the Taipei Dome since its inauguration a year ago, a close-to-full-house crowd of 34,528 fans witnessed the most intense international game ever played in the venue, with the home team coming on top with a solid 6-3 win over Korea.

Both teams started the game with a scoreless first, but Chinese Taipei’s offense went to work quickly in the second with a one-out single from Chieh-Kai Pan off Korea’s starter Youngpyo Ko. With bases loaded and two outs, Chen-Wei Chen sent the first pitch he saw from Ko to the right field bleacher for a grand slam to give Chinese Taipei a 4-0 lead.

Two batters later, Chinese Taipei’s captain Chieh-Hsien Chen followed suit to belt a two-run home run to give Chinese Taipei a comfortable 6-0 lead and subsequently forced Korea’s manager Joong-Il Ryu to take his starter out of the game.

Korea’s offence responded in the top of the fourth when Changki Honk drew a leadoff walk against Chinese Taipei’s Lin. Doyeong Kim later drove in the night's first run for Korea before Dongwon Park drove in another run to double the score for Korea.

Lin was taken out of the game after four and 2/3 innings after giving up two runs, struck out three, and walked one.

Korea scored another run on Seungyeup Na’s solo home run in the seventh inning, but that was the end of Korea's scoring against Chinese Taipei in the first game of the Premier12 2024.

Chinese Taipei starter Lin said after the game: “I had the similar experience from last year (playing against Korea in the Asian Games) so I understand the tension of the game. Four and 2/3 innings may not be seen as a long start, but we do understand that this is not a season game but an international tournament, so I think the timing (to be removed) was right. We do have a great bullpen, and they did a great job, too.”

Korea manager Joong-Il Ryu commented on his team’s performance: “I would not say that our players did not play well, but it is that (Chinese Taipei) pitching was outstanding.”

Chen-Wei Chen, who hit the grand slam in the second inning, was emotional after the win. "This is the first grand slam in my career, and I’d never expect to have hit it during the international tournament. When rounding the bases, I was excited and emotional, especially hearing the roaring cheers from the sold-out crowds.”

For both teams’ next matches, Chinese Taipei will play the Dominican Republic in Taipei Dome and Korea will go to Tianmu Baseball Stadium to face Cuba.