Australia Takes First Step in World Baseball Classic
Australia inauguró el Clásico Mundial de Béisbol el jueves venciendo a China Taipei 3-0 con jonrones de dos carreras de Robbie Perkins en la quinta entrada y Travis Bazzana en la séptima, ambos en el Tokyo Dome. Foto: AP
The Australian team took the spotlight at the majestic Tokyo Dome today by defeating Chinese Taipei 3-2, in the game that kicked off hostilities in Group C of the VI World Baseball Classic.
The Australians got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning, scoring two runs. Two innings later, in the so-called "lucky" frame, star left-hander Travis Bazzana smashed a home run to right field to seal the final 3-0 victory.
Australia sent exactly three pitchers to the mound: Alex Wells, Jack O'Loughlin, and Jon Kennedy, each handling three innings. The win, however, went to O'Loughlin, while Kennedy recorded the save.
In the contest, the Oceanians connected for seven hits and committed one error, while Chinese Taipei managed only three hits and did not commit any defensive miscues.
In statements to the media shortly after the important challenge concluded, Bazzana expressed that the two things he thought about most in his childhood were playing in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) and, obviously, the MLB World Series.
The long home run by Australia's number 64 silenced the stands of the Tokyo Dome, filled today by thousands of fans who traveled from Taipei to cheer on their team, in a game that was clearly decisive for their aspirations to advance to the next round.
The Taiwanese, in addition to the defeat, suffered a regrettable loss: their captain, Chen Chieh-hsien, who was hit by a pitch on his left hand and had to leave the game.
As the tournament continues here, Australia will face the Czech Republic tomorrow, while Chinese Taipei will face none other than the home team: the formidable Japanese squad, which dreams of winning its fourth title in the World Baseball Classic this year.
The 2026 edition of the WBC features twenty teams divided into four groups, who will play an initial round-robin phase.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals (March 13 and 14). For Group C, the qualifiers will travel to the U.S. city of Miami, which will also host the semifinals (March 15 and 16) and the championship game (March 17).
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