Chinese Taipei and China unveiled the international tie-break rule after being tied after ten innings and China picked up their first win of the tournament, Friday, on day three of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Baseball Tournament at the Wukesong Baseball Field 2 as they defeated Chinese Taipei 8-7.

Chinese Taipei was ahead 2-0 in the eighth as they scored in back-to-back innings, highlighted by a solo homerun by Kuo-Hui Lo in the fifth. Chinese Taipei got their second run an errant throw to third base by China first baseman Yubing Jia.

But then China got their first runs of the tournament when they posted a three spot in the bottom of the inning as Fei Feng, Yufeng Zhang and Wei Wang each posted an RBI hit. But Chinese Taipei responded in the top of the ninth by scoring again on a Chien-Ming Chang RBI double, forcing extra innings.

At the beginning of the eleventh inning, the game was set up in compliance with the rules of the international tie-break. Beginning with runners on first and second with no outs, both coaches were allowed to begin the inning with whomever from their lineup they chose allowing the best opportunity to score.

After a sacrifice bunt and a routine double play, China went into the bottom of the inning in hopes of capturing their first win. But China could not capitalize on the opportunity either.

A four run top of the twelfth by Chinese Taipei looked to finish China off but China reeled off two hits and took advantage of a walk and an error to put up five in the bottom half of the inning to take the game. Fenglian Hou posted the big two-run single that also saw an error by the right-fielder to bring around the third and game winning run and celebration at home plate.

Chien-Fu Yang (0-1) took the loss for Chinese Taipei as he went two and two-third innings allowing three hits, five runs and two walks. Jiangang LV (1-0) got the win for China as he was the pitcher of record for China in the twelfth inning.

Chinese Taipei returns to action Saturday as they face Cuba (2-0) at 11:30 at the Wukesong Baseball Main Field. China will take on the Netherlands (0-2) on the Wukesong Baseball Field 2 at 18:00.

Source: IBAF