World Baseball Classic: Panama vs. Chinese Taipei
Wednesday’s other World Baseball Classic opening game — also played in Taijung between Panama and Chinese Taipei — was equally unenthralling, although for entirely different reasons. The Panamanians scored 11 times in the fourth and sixth innings en route to a 12-5 blowout victory over the Group A hosts.
Mets infielder Jonathan Arauz produced two hits that drove in three runs, and he was hardly alone. Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt, Jays infielder Ruben Tejada, Mariners prospect Jose Caballero, former Tiger prospect Luis Castillo and Jahdiel Santamaria all also had two hits in the 14-hit Panama assault on a half-dozen Chinese Taipei pitchers.
The Chinese Taipei offense kept pace with Panama in one fundamental, base hits, producing 12 of them. But Taipei batters evinced an amazing ability to fail to deliver at key times, stranding 10 baserunners. Left fielder Po-Jung Wang was especially egregious in this respect, leaving six teammates on base in three hitless at-bats.
Wang grounded out with the bases loaded in the first inning, popped out with a runner on in the fourth, and flied out with runners at first and second in the fifth.
Bases on balls were another key distinction. Panama got eight of them, Chinese Taipei just three.
The Panamanian offense also operated profligately, leaving nine runners on base. But given their dozen runs, 14 base hits, eight walks, plus one hit batter and a Taipei error, they could afford the extravagance.
Play continues Wednesday night (Thursday afternoon in Asia) in Groups A and B. In Group A, Panama plays Netherlands in a game that starts at 11 p.m. Eastern time.
Australia and South Korea open Group B play in Japan at 10 p.m. Eastern in a game that can be seen on Fox Sports 1. At 5 a.m. Thursday, China plays host Japan. Meanwhile, in Group B, Italy will play Cuba at 6 a.m. Thursday.
The full schedule can be seen here.