USA Advances With Win Over Taiwan

CHINA - Team USA secured a spot in the medal round with a 4-2 win over Taiwan as Colorado Rockies prospect Dexter Fowler had three hits and Brandon Knight combined with two relievers on a five-hitter on Tuesday in Beijing.

Taiwan capitalized on an error by the Americans to grab a 1-0 lead in the fifth before Fowler smacked a triple and tied the score on Brian Barden’s RBi double. John Gall’s solo home run in the sixth put Team USA ahead and Fowler’s second extra-base hit of the game, a run-scoring two-bagger, strectched the lead to 3-1.

Lin Chih-sheng moved Taiwan to within a run with a solo shot in the seventh, but Jason Donald added an insurance run in the eighth with a clutch run-scoring single.

Knight, who fanned five of the first seven batters he faced, gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings to pick up the win while relievers Mike Koplove and Kevin Jepsen combined to throw 2 2/3 scoreless innings that included a pair of strikeouts.

Fowler went 3-for-3 with a triple and an RBI double for the injured Matt LaPorta who sustained a mild concussion after getting plunked against China.

According to the Associated Press, LaPorta suffered a mild concussion, and may be available to play by Wednesday’s game. The news is worse for China’s catcher Wang Wei. The Mariners’ prospect tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a collision at the plate with LaPorta.

The Americans will battle Japan to decide third and fourth place in the round robin phase of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Baseball competition at Wukesong Baseball Field on Wednesday. Japan (4-2) booked a ticket into the semi-final after whipping China 10-0 in seven innings via the mercy rule. They are tied for third in the tournament with the United States.