BASEBALL/Taiwan to face Spain in win-or-go-home game after losing to Nicaragua

Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Team Taiwan is set to face Spain in a win-or-go-home match on Tuesday for the final berth at the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), despite losing to Nicaragua 6-0 in the WBC qualifier held at the Taipei Dome on Sunday.

The home team's loss on Sunday means Nicaragua finishes No. 1 in the qualifier round held in Taipei with a perfect 3-0 record and advances to the 2026 games.

After crushing South Africa 9-1 earlier on Sunday, Spain took second place in the four-team qualifier with a 2-1 record.

With a 1-2 record, Taiwan, competing under the name Chinese Taipei, finished third while South Africa placed at the bottom with a 0-3 record.

Taiwan and Spain are set to face each other again on Tuesday for the final berth at the 2026 WBC. The home squad was crushed by Spain in the WBC qualifier opener 12-5 on Friday.

In Sunday's match, the Central American team struck first in the opening frame against Taiwan's 19-year-old starter Hsu Hsiang-sheng (徐翔聖) on a fielder's error and two consecutive hits, giving them an early 2-0 lead.

The visitors added one run in the top of the sixth inning and three more in the ninth to widen the gap to an insurmountable 6-0.

Team Taiwan's best chance came in the bottom of the fourth inning when the bases were loaded with one out. However, Nicaraguan reliever Osman Gutierrez, who replaced starter Dilmer Mejia, managed to finish the inning with an infield fly and a strikeout.

The WBC is a premier men's baseball international tournament organized by Major League Baseball (MLB), with its inaugural edition held in March 2006. Taiwan's best finish was eighth in the third edition of the WBC in 2013.

In the 2023 edition of the WBC, Taiwan finished with a 2-2 record, tying with three other teams in Pool A.

However, due to tournament rules that take into account runs scored and conceded, Taiwan was placed last and must now participate in the qualifier for the 2026 edition.

With the conclusion of the WBC qualifier in Taipei next week, a second qualifier featuring China, Germany, Brazil and Colombia will compete for the remaining two slots in the 2026 WBC from March 2-6 (U.S. time).