MLB No.1 pick Travis Bazzana homered and three pitchers combined for a complete game shutout as Australia stunned world No.2 Chinese Taipei 3-0 at the World Baseball Classic.
The Aussies are in the group of death at baseball’s version of the World Cup, placed alongside Asia’s three strongest teams – reigning champions and group hosts Japan, South Korea and Chinese Taipei – plus Czechia with only two teams advancing to the knockouts.
Watch the World Baseball Classic with ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
But Bazzana’s game-sealing home run on Thursday afternoon at the Tokyo Dome ensured the 11th-ranked Aussies are a chance of escaping the group.
It followed Robbie Perkins’ two-run shot in the fifth inning which held up thanks to nine scoreless innings from pitchers Alex Wells, Jack O’Loughlin and Jon Kennedy (three innings each).
Wells was particularly impressive with six strikeouts while O’Loughlin, the nation’s 38th and most recent MLB player, allowed just two hits through the middle innings.
Chinese Taipei threatened with a pair of baserunners in the ninth but Kennedy managed to shut the door.
Second baseman Bazzana was the No.1 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Guardians with hopes of being promoted from the minor leagues this season.
He is ranked as the No.20 prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com.
The Aussies will look to move to 2-0 when they face Czechia on Friday afternoon followed by likely decisive games against Japan (Sunday night) and South Korea (Monday night).
Discussion about this post