Venezuela managed to shut out No. 2 Chinese Taipei 3-0 at the WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Finals 2024, where a group of players arrived at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay just hours before their second game on Monday, despite missing their opening game due to severe travel issues.
Both teams missed multiple scoring opportunities, including Chinese Taipei's chance with one out and runners on the corners in the top of the fifth. Two-way phenom Frandelis Garcia secured the final two outs to end the threat, and Venezuela scored all the runs they needed in the bottom of the fifth.
Yu-Ying Hsieh led off with a single but was the first out trying to steal second. Venezuela's starter Angelica Ledezma walked Shih Yun Lee, and Hsiao-Mei Chen singled to bring her to third. Chen stole second, but Lee became the second out at the plate. Chiao Yun Huang singled to keep Chinese Taipei's at-bat alive. Ledezma then walked the bases loaded but got out of the inning by striking out Pei Chen Huang.
In the bottom half of the frame, Mariana Valdez reached Chinese Taipei's starter Ching Huang with a one-out infield single. Yohelis Colina sent a liner over the head of right fielder Pei Chen Huang for a stand-up double, bringing Valdez to third. Huang then got a deep fly from Yakari Molina and doubled up Valdez at the plate to end the inning.
Chinese Taipei lost another runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth. Wen-Ching Hsieh walked and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. She overran second and became the second out after a trap.
Venezuela loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fourth on a pair of hits and an error. Shrishna Arciniega lined out to first to end the inning.
Chia-Yu Lin led off the fifth with a hit. Chinese Taipei bunted her to second, and Lin reached third on Shih-Yun Lee's one-out single.
Superstar Frandelis Garcia took the mound with runners at the corners. She retired Shih-Yun Lee on a pop to second and Hsiao-Mei Chen on a fly to shallow left field to end the threat.
Venezuela took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Mariana Valdez led off with a single, stole second, and reached third on a wild pitch. Ching Huang got the first out on a pop to second, then intentionally walked Molina. Migrely Angulo bunted to the mound, and Valdez scored the go-ahead run on the error.
Yu-Chuan Tu relieved Huang. Ruclaireth Tovar singled on her fourth pitch, and Angulo scored when a bad hop sent the ball beyond left fielder Yen Tzu Hung. Angulo reached third on the play and scored on Mariana Natera's sacrifice fly.
Chinese Taipei got their first hit against Garcia when Yi-Hsuan Chiu singled to lead off the seventh. Garcia retired the side in order, getting the final two outs on strikes to end the game.
On Day 3, Venezuela (1-1) will face No. 1 Japan at 15:00, while Chinese Taipei (0-2 and facing elimination) will play Mexico at 11:00. All times local.
