Australia Open WBC Campaign in Style

James Stuart

Australia opened its 2026 World Baseball Classic campaign with a composed 3–0 victory over Chinese Taipei, relying on dominant pitching and a pair of timely home runs to break open a tight contest.

For much of the game the offenses were locked in a stalemate, but Australia finally broke through in the fifth when catcher Robbie Perkins launched a two-run homer to give the Australians the lead. That advantage grew in the seventh as top draft pick Travis Bazzana added a solo shot, providing crucial breathing room.

Australia’s pitching staff set the tone from the start. Left-hander Alex Wells opened with three scoreless innings and struck out six, helping keep Chinese Taipei’s lineup quiet. In total, Australian pitchers combined to allow just three hits while striking out nine in a shutout performance.

Chinese Taipei threatened late, putting two runners on base in the ninth inning, but the rally fizzled out before it could produce a run. The final out sealed a disciplined Australian performance that balanced patience at the plate with excellent work on the mound.

It was the kind of controlled, pitching-first win that sets the tone early in the tournament, and could prove crucial in the battle for second place in the pool.