Taiwan’s baseball team lost to Puerto Rico 4-7 on Sunday at the World Baseball Softball Confederation's (WBSC's) Premier 12 in Taichung, central Taiwan.
The two teams were tied 1-1 at the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.
Two hits by Chiang Chih-hsien and Kao Chih-kang helped Taiwan take a 3-1 lead in the top of the 11th inning, but Puerto Rico caught up and tied 3-3 again in the second half of the inning.
With a sacrifice bunt by Yang Dai-kang and a walk to first base by Kuo Yen-wen, Taiwan went back into the lead 4-3 in the top of the 12th inning.
But then with loaded bases, Aldo Mendez hit a grand slam, bringing the final score to 7-4.
Now the only way Taiwan’s team, known as “Chinese Taipei” can enter the quarterfinals is if Cuba loses to Italy. Chinese Taipei managed to beat Cuba 4-1 in an opening round match of the competition, bringing its record to two wins against two losses. A third loss for the home team on Sunday means its future hinges on Cuba’s showing in its next game.
The semi-finals and finals matches will be played in Tokyo, Japan.