Australia Opens World Baseball Classic With 3-0 Victory Over Chinese Taipei

TOKYO – Australia inaugurated the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Thursday, defeating Chinese Taipei 3-0 at the Tokyo Dome. The victory was secured with two-run home runs from Robbie Perkins in the fifth inning and Travis Bazzana in the seventh.

Pitching Dominance and Key Home Runs

The game was characterized by strong pitching performances from both teams. Chinese Taipei managed only three hits, while Australia recorded seven. The two home runs proved to be the decisive factor in a closely contested match.

Australia’s Strong Start

This win marks a positive start for Australia, building on their success in the 2023 tournament where they reached the quarterfinals, narrowly losing 4-3 to Cuba. Australian starter Alex Wells pitched three hitless innings, setting a strong foundation for the team. Jack O’Loughlin followed, allowing only two hits over the next three innings.

Key Moments in the Game

O’Loughlin was credited with the win, and Jon Kennedy secured the save. Po-Yu Chen was the losing pitcher for Chinese Taipei. Following Perkins’ home run, Chinese Taipei attempted a rally in the sixth inning, getting two runners on base with two outs, but failed to score.

Chieh-hsien Chen, a Chinese Taipei player, was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning, sustaining an injury to his right hand and being forced to leave the game.

Australia had an opportunity to extend their lead in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases, but Chris Burke popped out on a pitch from reliever Yi Chang.

Bazzana’s Impact

Travis Bazzana, the first overall pick in the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft, added an insurance run in the seventh inning with a home run to right field. Bazzana is expected to begin the season in Triple-A for the Cleveland Guardians’ minor league system.

Late Game Efforts

Chinese Taipei attempted a late comeback in the ninth inning, getting two runners on base, but Australia’s defense held strong to secure the 3-0 victory.

Sources:

• Australia 3-0 Chinese Taipei – ESPN
• Australia vs Chinese Taipei WBC score, results, highlights – USA Today
• Australia Opens World Baseball Classic With 3-0 Victory Over Chinese Taipei – Fox Sports
• 2026 World Baseball Classic: Play ball – Australia defeat Chinese Taipei – Olympics.com