Preview: USA and Chinese Taipei to bounce back after Day 1 defeats

World No. 2 Chinese Taipei and No. 5 USA lost in their WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS Super Round debut. They need a win to keep hopes to play for the title intact.

US manager Mike Scioscia believes Chinese Taipei is a dangerous team.
"I haven't had the chance to see them in person, but I studied them on video. They are a sound team, but they are very aggressive. They play the small ball, they will bunt, and they can run. They have a lot of aggressive players. We are still shooting for a Premier12 title, but we will have to play better than we did against Japan."

Scioscia will hand the ball to right-hander Zac Grotz, a 31-year-old veteran who played in 19 Major League Baseball (MLB) games for the Seattle Mariners between 2019 and 2020 and started 14 games for the Monclova Acereros in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB). He started against Venezuela in the Opening Round, going 3.2 innings and allowing one run.

"I told the players that they had to use their energy to rest and recover. There's nothing we can change about the outcome of the game against Venezuela. No one of them has responsibilities. The only responsible for losses is the manager," said Chinese Taipei skipper Hao-Jiu Tseng. "Venezuela is a strong team. We will have to play at our best."

Tseng chose left-hander Po-Ching Chen as his starter. The 26-year-old started 18 games for the TSG Hawks of the Chinese Professional League (CPBL), posting a 3.53 earned run average (ERA) and a 6-10 record. He started the game against Japan during the Opening Round, going 3.1 innings and allowing two runs.

The United States and Chinese Taipei have faced each other internationally 22 times since 2011 and the US recorded The last head-to-head dates to 2023. Chinese Taipei defeated the US, 3-0, in the U-18 Baseball World Cup Super Round. The United States beat Chinese Taipei, 3-2, in the WBSC Premier12 2019 Super Round.