Australia Blanks Chinese Taipei to Open WBC

Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

March 4, 2026

Australia 3, Chinese Taipei 0

Team Australia prevails over Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the first contest of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. A pair of home runs from the land down under was all that was needed, as Australia pitching staff looked phenomenal.

Australia-Chinese Taipei Game Summary

Offensively, the first four innings were a stalemate, as starters Alex Wells and Jo-Hsi Hsu were dealing early. Australia manager Dave Nilsson pulled Wells after three innings and striking out six batters and allowing only one baserunner.

It wasn’t until Hsu was pulled when the land down under capitalized. Po-Yu Chen got the call out of the pen. Robbie Perkins, the Australian Baseball League’s leader in home runs this past year, got a chance with a runner on base. He kicked off the run scoring with a two-run opposite field home run in the bottom of the fifth.

Chinese Taipei threatened with two runners on in the top of the sixth with Yu Chang up to bat. However, the now two-time WBC participant grounded out to third to end the inning.

Australia came back and got bases loaded with two outs for Chris Burke. For the formerly named Taiwan, Yi Chang came in out of the pen and forced a pop fly to second base. Jon Kennedy came in for the seventh inning and managed a 1-2-3 inning for Australia. Travis Bazzana came out looking to add to the lead with one out in the seventh. He did so resoundingly with a first pitch bomb to make it 3–0.

Not much of anything happened offensively until the top of the ninth. CT called on a couple of pinch-hitters to try and get the job done. Despite having the tying run at the plate, a ground ball to the pitcher Jon Kennedy to end the game.

What Went Right for Australia

Phenomenal Pitching

Considering the talent Chinese Taipei boasts, this Australia pitching staff only allowing six baserunners is remarkable.

Bazzana’s Been There Before

Major League Baseball’s 2024 No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana is no stranger to the atmosphere. He played for team Australia in the 2024 WSBC Premier 12 tournament.

“I think playing in Nagoya Dome and Taipei Dome was sort of one of my first tastes of what a playoff baseball environment feels like,” Bazzana said in his pregame press conference.

He looked great as well, going 2-for-4 with the insurance home run.

What Went Wrong for Australia

Three & Four Hitters Quiet

Bazzana, as well as Curtis Mead, had two hits each on the day. Unfortunately, Aaron Whitefield and Alex Hall each went 0-for-4 Wednesday. Things could’ve gotten real out of hand if they were able to contribute.

What Went Right for Chinese Taipei

Tons of Fight

Even when things were at its bleakest for CT, they put together a brief rally to keep things interesting. Also, for what it’s worth, Changa and captain Chieh-Hsien Chen looked really comfortable, considering their experience factors.

What Went Wrong for Chinese Taipei

Injured Captain

Chen got hit in the hand by a pitch in the sixth inning and had to leave the game. Chen, who hit a home run in the 2024 WBSC Premier 12 final against Japan, is the captain of the team for a reason. They have to hope the injury isn’t serious.

Looking Ahead

Australia has very little time to wait, as they get to play Chechia on Thursday at 10 pm. Chinese Taipei gets to be the opening game for Japan on Friday at 5 pm.