Australia Defeats Chinese Taipei in World Baseball Classic Opener
TOKYO – Australia defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the opening game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, March 4, at the Tokyo Dome. The victory gives Australia an early lead in Pool C.
Game Summary
Australia pulled away late, with Robbie Perkins leading the charge. Perkins hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to break the scoreless tie. Travis Bazzana added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run.
Key Performances
- Robbie Perkins (Australia): 2-run home run
- Travis Bazzana (Australia): Solo home run
- Alexander Wells (Australia): Pitched three scoreless innings, striking out six. He threw 28 strikes on 46 pitches.
Pitching Matchup
The game featured a pitching duel between Jo-Hsi Hsu of Chinese Taipei and Alexander Wells of Australia. Hsu is considered Chinese Taipei’s most electric pitcher, known for his fastball reaching the upper 90s and excellent split-finger.
Team Statistics
Chinese Taipei struggled to generate offense throughout the game. They managed to get runners on base in the ninth inning but couldn’t convert them into runs.
Australia Hitting
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. Bazzana | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | .250 |
| C. Mead | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .500 |
| A. Whitefield | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Chinese Taipei Hitting
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S. Fairchild | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| A. Lin | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| C. Chen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Looking Ahead
Both teams will continue Pool C play, seeking to advance in the tournament. This result sets the stage for a competitive pool as the World Baseball Classic progresses.
Source: ESPN, MLB.com, USA Today
Keep reading