Taiwan’s Forest Unicorns secured a thrilling 8-7 walk-off victory against Japan’s Corporate League team Saturday at the Asia Winter Baseball League, narrowly avoiding a franchise record for consecutive losses. The win halted a frustrating six-game skid for the Taiwanese squad and showcased a resilient offensive performance despite early pitching struggles. The dramatic game ultimately came down to a ninth-inning rally capped by a game-winning hit from Zhang you-jia.
張祐嘉。（資料照，記者李惠洲攝）
Taiwan’s Forest Unicorns ended a frustrating six-game losing streak on Saturday, walking off against Japan’s Corporate League team 8-7 in a dramatic finish at the Asia Winter Baseball League. The victory prevents the Taiwanese squad from setting a new league record for consecutive defeats.
The Unicorns jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Chang Jen-wei ripped a two-run double, and a sacrifice fly by Hsu Ho-chieh brought home another run. They added to their advantage in the second, with Chen Szu-chung and Chang Shih-lun each delivering timely RBIs.
Starting pitcher Tseng Chia-hui held Japan scoreless through two innings, but ran into trouble in the third, allowing a run on three hits. The fourth inning proved even more challenging, as Tseng struggled with his control, issuing two walks before being chased from the game after 2/3 of an inning. He was charged with three runs on six hits and three walks.
Despite falling behind, Taiwan responded in the bottom of the fourth. Chung Yu-cheng and Chen Szu-chung both singled, setting the stage for Chang Jen-wei to drive in a run with another well-placed hit. Ho Pin-shih followed with an RBI single of his own, regaining the lead for the Unicorns.
The Taiwanese offense continued to produce in the seventh, as Ho Pin-shih and Yang Hsiang-ho both reached base with hits. With the bases loaded, Li Hsun-chieh came through with a two-run double, extending the lead. Taiwan’s bullpen then delivered scoreless innings from Wang Po-yang, Chen Ying-rui, and Chen Sheng-kai.
However, the game wasn’t secure yet. Chen Yuan-wei, brought in to close out the game, completely lost control in the ninth. He surrendered three consecutive hits to start the inning and then uncorked three wild pitches, allowing Japan to tie the score at 7-7. Chen Yuan-wei became the first Taiwanese pitcher in league history to record three wild pitches in a single inning, though he wasn’t alone in that dubious distinction – several pitchers have reached that mark previously.
With the game tied, Yang Hsiang-ho led off the bottom of the ninth with a single, and Lin Wu Jin-wei earned a walk. Then, with two outs, Zhang You-jia delivered a walk-off single, securing the 8-7 victory and ending the losing streak.
熱門賽事、球星動態不漏接
