Baseball
Chieh Hsien Chen Delivers Key Homer as Taiwan Stuns Japan in the Premier12 Final
Previously undefeated Japan couldn't come up with key hits against Taiwan's pitchers and failed to defend its Premier12 title at Tokyo Dome.
Chieh Hsien Chen hit a three-run homer in the fifth inning on Sunday, November 24 as Taiwan defeated Japan 4-0 in the final of the Premier12 tournament, stunning the previously undefeated defending champion.
It was an outcome that was hard to accept for top-ranked Japan. Since 2011, Japan and Taiwan had faced each other 38 times, with Japan winning 23 times, including twice in this tournament.
One of those wins was a 9-6 victory on Saturday at Tokyo Dome that ensured Japan went into the final undefeated in the tournament.
Taiwan was 5-3 through the preliminary round and Super Round.
"Our players did a great job throughout this tournament," said Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata, whose team was held to four hits. "Their pitchers did a good job tonight and we couldn't get key hits. I take full responsibility for this loss."
Premier12 Pitchers' Duel
The game started out as a pitchers' duel between Japan starter Shosei Togo and Taiwan starter Yu Min Lin, a 21-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect who repeatedly pitched high and tight to Japan's hitters.
As a member of the Yomiuri Giants, Togo should have felt right at home playing before a sold-out crowd at Tokyo Dome. Togo started 26 games in 2024, posting a 12-8 record and a 1.95 ERA for the Giants.
But it was Taiwan that looked right at home after four scoreless innings.
Taiwan Pulls Ahead in the 5th Inning
Chia Cheng Lin hit a solo homer to right-center field off Togo in the top of the fifth to give Taiwan a 1-0 lead.
Chieh Hsien Chen then connected for a three-run shot to right that left the Tokyo Dome crowd stunned, save for the large contingent of Taiwan fans that made the trip to the Japanese capital.
Togo, who gave up four runs on seven hits, took the loss.
With a 4-0 lead, Taiwan put in pitcher Yi Chang, who has experience playing in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes and the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Chang's familiarity with Japan's batters showed as he held the hosts scoreless over three innings before another former NPB pitcher, Kuan Yu Chen, took the mound. Chang was the winning pitcher.
Japan dodged a bullet in the seventh. With runners on second and third Chieh Kai Pan hit a grounder to short and appeared to beat the throw as the runner scored.
That would have made it 5-0, but a video replay showed Japan first baseman Shugo Maki had the ball in his glove before Pan touched the bag.
Taiwan Completes the Shutout
Kuan Yu Chen, who pitched previously for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars and the Chiba Lotte Marines, threw a scoreless eighth as the tension grew for the hosts.
Kai Wei Lin took to the mound in the ninth and, with one out, got Ryoya Kurihara to hit into a game-ending double play after which Taiwan's players streamed onto the field for a wild celebration.
Many of Taiwan's players were overcome with emotion and in tears.
It was a stunning end for a Japan team that seemed in total control up until the final game.
US Beats Venezuela in 3rd-Place Game
Earlier Sunday, the United States defeated Venezuela, 6-1 to win the bronze medal.
The US claimed silver in 2015 and finished fourth in 2019.
For Venezuela, its fourth-place finish was its best Premier12 result, having finished seventh in 2019 and ninth in 2015.
RELATED:
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- Shugo Maki Delivers Key Hit in Japan's Triumph Over South Korea in the Premier12
Author: Jim Armstrong
The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.