Chinese Taipei defeat Cuba to complete Premier12 Opening Round action

Chinese Taipei defeated Cuba, 2-0, at the Taipei Dome on Monday to complete the Group B play of the Opening Round of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS with a 4-1 record.

Manager Hao-Jiu Tseng called out to the fans, “We are heading to the Super Round with the passion and expectation from the fans, and we will do our best and play the best we can, one game after another.”

Chinese Taipei sent Tzu-Peng Huang, the winning pitcher who no-hit Dominican Republic for six innings, to the mound to face Yoennis Yera, who threw six strong scoreless innings against the Dominican Republic on the opening day of the Group B five days ago.

The home team scored the first run of the night in the third with Kungkuan Giljegiljaw's two-out double that drove Pei-Fond Dai home for a 1-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, Chinese Taipei launched the second wave of offense. After leadoff hitter Song-En was walked, Chieh-Kai Pan reached first on error before Dai’s infield hit loaded the bases. Another run was added to Chinese Taipei’s scoreboard when Cheng-Yu Chang reached first on a fielder’s choice that drove in Tseng from the third.

In the fifth, Cuba’s Erisbel Arruebarruena hit a double to left after one out, making it the second time that Cuba has reached scoring position. After Andry Perez hit a two-out single, Arruebarruena decided to try to score the first run for Cuba but was called out at home on an 8-6-2 relay by Chinese Taipei after the review.

Starting fifth, both teams' offenses were largely contained by the opposing pitching and defense, and Chinese Taipei held on to take the fourth win in the Opening Round to advance to the Super Round, ranking second in Group B.

“Chinese Taipei pitchers pitched a great game,” said Cuba manager Armando Johnson. “Congratulations to Japan and Chinese Taipei on advancing to the Super Round.

"Although the results are disappointing, during the game we played against Japan last night, I saw the old Cuba team I am familiar with. I am satisfied to have seen my players playing hard and gave their one hundred percent on and off the field," Johnson added. "As long as they give their best, I would not put any blame on them.”

Chinese Taipei manager Hao-Jiu Tseng again expressed his appreciation to the 30,000-plus fans that energized the team. “In a low-scoring game like this, defense and pitching became critical. The 8-6-2 relay in the fifth inning that ultimately had Dai tagged Arruebarruena out is one of the best examples.”

“Tomorrow, we are heading to the Super Round with passion and expectation from the fans, and we will do our best and play the best we can one game after another,” said Tseng.

The final game of the Opening Round also marked the first time for catcher Pei-Fong Dai to start in the game, “I am just focusing on my own tasks. My main task is to communicate and to guide the pitcher, and I really cherish moments like this (being surrounded by full house of fans.) You can’t have everything in your life, so I hold on to what I have now and cherish the moment.”

“Just believe yourself,” said Giljegiljaw said. “While being in the dugout, it was also important for me to cheer for my team. Again, believe yourself, and believe the fans too!”

Both Chinese Taipei and Japan will head to Tokyo for the Super Round, which starts on November 21. The bronze medal game and the World Championship Game will follow on November 24, 2024.