Taiwan second baseman Peng Yi-Yen (18) celebrates after throwing out Japan's Riku Yamamoto (14) for the final out of their 3-1 win during the sixth inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

A closer look at the Chinese Taipei’s 3-1 win over Japan on Wednesday at Volunteer Stadium.

PLAY OF THE GAME — The finisher: With how the sixth inning has gone in the past few international games, fans may have been getting a sense of deja vu as Japan put its first run on the board and cut its deficit to two. It still had work to do with just one out left to spare but that didn’t make the game-winning play easy to make. But despite allowing back-to-back doubles, the Chinese Taipei quickly regathered itself. Closing pitcher Lin Shang-Kai forced an infielder grounder and second baseman Peng Yi-Yen made the routine play at first, sealing its fourth win of the series.

CHINESE TAIPEI PLAYER OF THE GAME — Yu Chia-Jui: A lot of Chinese Taipei players contributed through Wednesday’s game, but catcher Yu Chia-Jui was the one that got those two pivotal runs on the board in the first. With two of his teammates – Chiu Wei-Che and Ciou Zhi-Kai – occupying corners, he logged his first hit of the game, drilling a liner deep into left field for a well-timed double to bat the two runners home. And from behind the plate, he tracked down multiple outs in foul territory, helping his pitchers keep their counts down whenever he could.

JAPAN PLAYER OF THE GAME –Yuki Tsuji: Though he struggled from the mound at times, allowing three runs on five hits and issuing three walks through 4 2/3 innings, Yuki Tsuji still showed those in attendance than it had more than one capable starter, striking out five and helping keep Japan’s deficit surmountable. Then, in their last shot to rally, he skated a grounder down the left field line for a well-timed double, posting the team’s lone RBI to provide them with a late spark.

BIG INNING–Chinese Taipei’s first: With this game possessing the high stakes of a trip to the international final, Chinese Taipei came out much differently than it did against Cuba, setting the tone with a two-run first inning that proved pivotal down the stretch. Its top of the order came out swinging, with Chiu Wei-Che leading things off with a double and center fielder Chou Zhi-Kai and Yu Chia-Jui following him up with a single and double respectively. Even with the rain delay halting its momentum, those runs coupled with its stout defense was all the team ended up needing.

BEST EFFORT– “Do what you do”: In the bottom of the third, Chinese Taipei relieving pitcher Ciou Zhi-Kai kicked off his relieving effort by walking back-to-back batters, putting the tying run on first and giving Japan some much-needed momentum. But Zhi-Kai didn’t let Japan make any more headway, striking out two straight batters and going on to pitch three stout innings.

FLASHING LEATHER– With a 2-0 lead in the second inning, Chinese Taipei had acquired corners with one out and appeared to be on the brink of extending its lead and building up more momentum. But a grounder from leadoff batter Chiu Wei-Che shot right into the hands of Japan shortstop Yuzuki Ozawa, who efficiently got to second while winding up for a throw to first. He’d get the ball to first just before Wei-Che got there, completely the double play. With that play, he not only prevented Chinese Taipei from acquiring another run but also kept the top of its order from having a chance to capitalize with runners on base.

Then, in the fifth inning, left fielder Kanata Furuyama made a similar play on a well-placed from Wei-Che. On a fly ball deep to left, he’d extend to make an improbable catch on the run. It was so improbable that the Chinese Taipei – who started on first – was midway to third, making the double play considerably easy to make there.

Each catcher was also on high alert, with Japan’s Tomoki Watanabe tracking down a tough foul ball in the fourth inning and Chinese Taipei’s Yu Chia-Jui doing the same in the next half and later on in the fifth. Though Japan surrendered a run there, Chia-Jui’s play was a contributory in the team retiring the side there.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY–Today, we made a lineup adjustment,” said Chinese Taipei manager Lee Cheng-Ta through an interpreter on the keys to starting strong Wednesday. “We were very happy that we were able to perform in the very first inning, too bad that the rain cooled down not just the weather, but us as well. However, we were able to get back in the game.

“Japan is a very good team. Just today, we had a better performance. We believe they are very strong, and we may meet again,” he added on Japan.

WHAT THE KIDS SAY– “It was an important game, so I was kind of nervous in the beginning,” said Chinese Taipei relieving pitcher Ciou Zhi-Kai through an interpreter. “I gave up two walks and coach told me to relax and do what I usually do. Towards the end, I gained more confidence and started doing better.”

WHAT IT MEANS– With the win, Chinese Taipei improves to 4-0 on the tournament and becomes the first team to secure a spot in the international final, making it there for the second straight year. Japan endures its first loss of the series and will face the winner of Venezuela and Mexico on Thursday at 3 p.m. at Lamade Stadium.