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Taipei vs. Japan [November 9] Two Dramatic Come-From-Behind Wins for Japan

12/11/2013TopTeam

Taipei vs. Japan [November 9] Two Dramatic Come-From-Behind Wins for Japan

BASEBALL CHALLENGE 2013 - Review of the November 8 to 10 series from the day the teams arrived to the day it finished.

Enthusiastic Support from Chinese Taipei Fans Moves Players

"Playing in Taiwan made this game as "away" as you could get for us."
"I was surprised to see the Chinese Taipei fans were rooting with microphones."

At Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium before the second game started, Samurai Japan was at the bench talking about the enthusiasm of the Chinese Taipei fans on the previous day. During the game, I was in a room behind the back net. This shut most of the stadium noise out, so I couldn't hear the fans. When I asked Daichi Osera about it in the locker room after the game, he said, "This was the most enthusiastic crowd I've ever seen at an international game."

Right before the game started, Samurai Japan formed a circle in front of the bench. They looked more relaxed than they did the day before. The dramatic come-from-behind win for the first game set the mood. Ginji shouted cheerfully from the middle of the circle.

"Let's do it!"

The energy in the stadium reached its peak when Yang Dai-Kang stepped up to the plate.

At 7:05 PM, the second game started.

It was Saturday, and 9,752 fans were in the stands, 2,500 more than on the previous day. When I looked at the stadium, it was packed.

As Samurai Japan talked before the game, the entire stadium looked like it was cheering for the Chinese Taipei team. When a Taipei player got a base hit, it was like a festival. When Yang Dai-Kang (Hokkaido Nippon-Ham) stepped up to the plate, the cheers at the stadium became even louder.

Scanning the crowd, I found one fan cheering him on with a microphone and other spectators following in unison. It was amazing that one person could so perfectly control the cheering crowd at the stadium, but the fact that he was using a microphone surprised me all the more. This is what Samurai Japan was talking about. The enthusiasm at the stadium made it feel like a WBC game.

Uniforms, towels and other Samurai Japan items were sold at the stadium, and the shop was very popular among the spectators.

Two Consecutive Dramatic Come-From-Behind Wins for Japan!

Taiwan's Yang Dai-Kang put the first score on the board with a single home run in the first inning. Samurai Japan got five hits, both long and short, in the second inning to reverse the situation. The pressure was on Takahiro Matsunaga (Chiba Lotte) with the bases loaded and two outs in the last inning, but he didn't give up any hits afterward and the won the second game 4 to 2.

Just like after the first game, Samurai Japan high-fived one another saying "It was a nice game!" After surviving the difficult last inning, Pitcher Matsunaga said, "I guess I'll get more sports coverage in Taiwan today than the other Japanese players!" This got a big laugh from his teammates. The team's spirits were running high.

Tomorrow is the last game. They will do their best to make their record three consecutive wins.

チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月5日】新生侍ジャパンのはじまり
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月6日】ついに全世代がひとつになる
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月7日】試合前日、いざ台北へ
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月8日】強化試合がついに開幕
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月9日】逆転勝利で2連勝
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月10日】チームはひとつに!強化試合3連勝
チャイニーズ・タイペイ戦 ドキュメント 【11月11日】戦いを終えた侍ジャパン

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