WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari during the opening ceremony (Photo by WBSC)
Premier12, First Round, Pool A: Chinese Taipei – Netherlands 4-7
Netherlands 130 000 003 7 14 0 Chinese Taipei 100 101 001 4 9 1
After Sunday’s Premier12 opener at the Sapporo Dome in Japan, the tournament also celebrated its inauguration at the second co-host in Taiwan on Monday. The Netherlands held off Chinese Taipei 7-4 in a close contest at a well-attended Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung. The game was preceded by the official opening ceremony with the participating teams, player and official oaths and Sadaharu Oh swinging at the ceremonial first pitch.
Both teams didn’t waste any time or showed any rust in the beginning following the opening ceremony. The Netherlands loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first and Randolph Oduber scored the 1-0 lead through a sac fly by Curt Smith. It was short-lived, as Chinese Taipei answered right away thanks to a leadoff home run by Dai-Kang Yang.
But the Dutch team wasn’t shocked and got back ahead in the top of the second. A sac fly by Oduber plated Kalian Sams to make it 2-1. Yurendell De Caster followed with a two-run home run for a three-run advantage. The Netherlands weren’t able to score in the next six frames and Team CT cut the deficit. Three consecutive hits in the fourth including a RBI double by Hung-Yu Lin and a solo home run by the same player in the sixth brought the home team within a single run.
After Chinese Taipei failed to score despite having two runners on second and third and one out in the bottom of the eighth, the Netherlands added three insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Smith made it a 5-3 game with a RBI single. Sac flies by Shawn Zarraga and Gianison Boekhoudt pushed home runs six and seven. Chinese Taipei was able to score again in the bottom of the ninth thanks to a RBI single by Chien-Ming Chang and brought the tying run to the plate, but eventually closer Loek van Mil got the final three outs and secured the win.
Netherlands starting pitcher Diegomar Markwell allowed five hits, two runs and a walk in three-plus innings, receiving a no-decision. He left after facing 11 batters, being hindered by an elbow injury after getting hit by a comebacker in the second. He was relieved by Tom Stuifbergen, who dominated in 1 1/3 frames, but also needed to be replaced due to an injury. He left after landing awkwardly and rolled an ankle.
The Premier12 continues on Tuesday with four games. In Taoyuan Mexico faces Venezuela at 12.05pm and the Dominican Republic squares off against the USA at 6.05pm. In Taichung Italy enters the competition at 12.05pm against Puerto Rico. In the evening game Canada faces Cuba at 6.35pm. The Netherlands next play on Wednesday against Cuba, Chinese Taipei faces Italy on the same day in their next match.