Japan yield title, retain pride
Taiwan fans rally behind dethroned golfer Tseng
JAPAN fell short for the first time at a World Baseball Classic, but manager Koji Yamamoto handled Sunday’s 3-1 semi-final loss to Puerto Rico with grace despite their inexperience with an elimination defeat.
“In this case, our opponent was really superior, both in pitching and hitting,” Yamamoto said through a translator. “So we were cornered, in a sense.”
Japan had won the first two WBC titles in 2006 and 2009 and were gunning for a third before the Puerto Rican giantkillers worked their magic.
Japanese hitting greats Sadaharu Oh and Tatsunori Hara, who each managed one of the twoWBC title teams, threw out the ceremonial first pitches before the game, but the defenders failed to deliver with their bats.
They made outs in their first 10 at-bats against Puerto Rican starter and winner Mario Santiago, then left runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Perhaps feeling the urgency to make something happen, Yamamoto gambled on calling a double steal with men on first and second and slugger Shinnosuke Abe at the plate after Japan scored their only run with one out in eighth.
The play backfired, however, when lead runner Hirokazu Ibata hesitated after taking a few initial steps towards third. Seiichi Uchikawa put his head down and sprinted for second, only to find Ibata standing on the bag.
Puerto Rican catcher Yadier Molina ran all the way out towards second base and tagged Uchikawa out.
Abe grounded out harmlessly to end the threat.
Yamamoto said afterwards Puerto Rican reliever J. C. Romero’s delivery had been slow to the plate, making the gamble worth taking.
“It failed, but I don’t regret the attempt,” he said after joining Venezuela and the US team on Puerto Rico’s upset list. FANS of dethroned Taiwan golf queen Tseng Yani rallied behind her yesterday, encouraging her to fight back and reclaim her world number one title a day after American Stacy Lewis toppled her from the top spot.
Lewis claimed the title by firing a final-round eight-under-par 64 at the LPGA Founders Cup to beat Japan’s Ai Miyazato by three strokes. Tseng finished with a share of 59th place, 19 strokes off the pace.
Fans of Tseng, one of Taiwan’s most beloved sports stars, were quick to show their support for her on social media sites and online forums, encouraging her to reclaim the title she held for two years.
“The burden on Yani’s shoulder is so heavy, and I don’t know who can bear it . . . We all know Yani has done a lot for Taiwan, and I hope everybody will continue to cheer her on,” one of the messages posted on the Facebook page of the golfer known as “The Pride of Taiwan” said.
“I am upset that Stacy becomes the golf queen, but let’s just take it easy. Yani will fight in the next game, and I think she can get the title back,” another fan wrote.
Taiwan’s state Central News Agency said the setback could be a blessing in disguise for the 24-year-old, who has been struggling during two increasingly difficult years at the top.
“Tseng Yani faces a wider road ahead after the pressure from holding the title is gone,” it said. “She has been optimistic, and we can look forward to her improved performance.”
Tseng was reduced to tears last year as pressure built after a string of missed cuts, and after winning seven titles in 2011 she is now searching for her first victory in a year.
Earlier this month, Tseng admitted she would almost be glad to be toppled from the “very lonely” spot of world number one.
“I don’t care if I lose [world number one]. I don’t really care about world number one now — I just want to have fun,” she said during a tournament in Singapore.