Taiwan downs Germany in baseball qualifier

Meanwhile, Australia knocked Canada from the ranks of the undefeated with a 10-5 upset in another game yesterday, which also saw South Korea beating Mexico 6-1, and Spain defeating South Africa 2-1.

The top three finishers in the tournament will earn spots in the 2008 Beijing Olympics baseball competition.

Taiwan was expected to coast to an easy win over a team that was given little chance to compete with the top teams in the tournament, but it turned out to be the toughest game for the host team so far.

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Germany, with only one U.S. minor league player on its roster, seemed poise to rally to victory.

But with German runners on first and third and nobody out, reliever Lo Chia-jen retired the next three batters without allowing any damage to preserve a shaky victory.

The potent attack that helped Taiwan to wins over Spain and Mexico was silenced by Germany’s pitchers. “In fact, this game came with even more pressure because it was a game we couldn’t afford to lose,” Taiwan manager Hung Yi-chung said after the game.

After being shutout for six innings, Taiwan finally broke through in the top of the seventh to score the eventual winning runs. Lin Chih-sheng doubled and scored on Lo Kuo-hui’s two-bagger to break the scoreless tie. Lo then scored on Kao Chih-kang’s single, his first hit in the tournament.

“I imagined a scene that we were going to the Beijing Olympics when I stepped to the plate. I promised Chen Chin-feng that we would take him to Beijing, “ Lo said.

Chen Chin-feng, Taiwan’s best hitter, withdrew from the team due to injury prior to the tournament.

Germany stayed with the Taiwanese in the first six innings and even outhit Taiwan 5-4. It’s starting lefthander Andre Hughes bothered Taiwanese hitters with slow pitches ranging between 105-115 kilometers per hour.

“We haven’t often seen such slow pitches in Taiwan and our hitters spent some time to get used to it,” Hung said.

Hughes allowed eight hits and two runs in 6 2/3 innings.

Taiwan starter Chang Chih-chia struck out three and gave up five hits in five innings.

Taiwan faces a major test today against Canada, with a win likely to clinch an Olympic berth for the hosts.

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