PLAY OF THE GAME — Liao Yuan-Shu RBI: At the top of the order, shortstop Liao Yuan-Shu hit a double to drive in a run, but the following baserunner was beaten at the plate to retire the side following back-to-back strikeouts after a pitching change was made. Yuan-Shu’s RBI gave Chinese Taipei a two-run cushion heading down the stretch.

CHINESE TAIPEI PLAYER OF THE GAME — Tseng Yi-Chi: Tseng Yi-Chi went 2 for 4 with one run scored. Taipei City recorded seven hits altogether opposed to five from Tamaulipas.

MEXICO PLAYER OF THE GAME — Miguel Padilla: Miguel Padilla has been almost automatic in getting on base throughout the tournament, and he marched to the same beat against Chinese Taipei. Padilla reached on all of his plate appearances, going 2 for 2 with a walk and Mexico’s run scored.

BIG INNING — Top of the fourth inning: Tied a run apiece, Chinese Taipei pulled ahead in the top of the fourth inning with the aid of a couple wild pitches and errors from Mexico.

Mai Yi-Chen led off by getting hit by a pitch, then stole second and worked his way to third on an error before the first out was made. Another throwing error brought him home, giving Taipei City a one-run lead.

Yuan-Shu’s RBI afterward allowed Chinese Taipei to get another run in, creating some cushion to carry Fu-Lin’s club to the finish. Taipei City added even more insurance with another pair of runs on a fourth error by Mexico as well as a fielder’s choice in the top of the sixth.

BEST EFFORT — The first inning was a textbook depiction of the unstoppable force of Mexico’s offense and the immovable object of Chinese Taipei’s defense.

Both teams ended the opening inning tied 1-1 with two hits apiece in the stalemate. Wang Yuan-Fu and Hernan Mireles both recorded RBI doubles for their respective clubs in each half inning as the two undefeated international clubs traded blows early.

FLASHING LEATHER — Both clubs battled for two scoreless innings before Chinese Taipei retook the lead.

Yuan-Fu pitched the first 2 1/3 innings and struck out five with three hits and a run let up across 51 pitches. Hsiao Chao-Hsun, with one more pitch to his count than Yuan-Fu, struck out four with one hit over three innings of work.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY — “I have a great respect for Mexico, not only from little league but even to the majors,” Chinese Taipei manager Chang Tzu-Chien said. “We have a great respect, especially in this game. We’ve studied a lot and prepared for this game.”

Mexico manager Victor Salazar declined invitation to the postgame press conference.

WHAT IT MEANS — Chinese Taipei, despite giving up its first run and error of the tournament, remains undefeated in the 2022 Little League World Series and will play in the International Championship.

Mexico falls to the elimination bracket and will face the winner between Curaçao and Nicaragua at 3 p.m. Thursday at Lamade Stadium for a bid to the International Championship.