Róger Leytón Leads Nicaragua Past Chinese Taipei in U-23 Thriller

Róger Leytón collected three hits and drove in two runs as host Nicaragua beat Chinese Taipei 4-2 for its first victory at the 2026 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup on Saturday night in León.

Carlos Gazo protected the two-run lead with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, ending a tense finish at Estadio Rigoberto López Pérez and moving Nicaragua to 1-1 in Group A.

Nicaragua attacks in the first inning

Nicaragua seized control before starter Tito Martínez threw a pitch. Eddson Martínez walked, and Luis Fernández reached on an error before Elián Rayo singled home the opening run.

Leytón followed with another run-scoring single, and Wilfredo Centeno tripled him home for a 3-0 lead. Chinese Taipei starter Wang Xuan-Qi recorded only one out, allowing three hits and three earned runs before leaving the game.

Chinese Taipei responded with four consecutive hits in the third, cutting the deficit to 3-1 and forcing Nicaragua to its bullpen. Francisco Robleto inherited the bases loaded with one out but escaped when shortstop Fernández helped turn a double play.

Robleto worked 2 2/3 scoreless innings around a rain delay, allowing two hits and keeping Nicaragua in front.

Gazo survives bases-loaded finish

Chinese Taipei’s bullpen gave its offense time to recover. Lei Hao-po replaced Wang in the first and allowed only one hit across 5 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four and reaching 97 mph, according to the game broadcast.

Chinese Taipei made it 3-2 in the sixth. Wu Cheng-hao walked, moved forward on a groundout and a balk, and scored on Chung Huai-i’s single.

Nicaragua answered in the top of the seventh. Fernández was hit by a pitch, Rayo reached on an infield single, and Leytón doubled home the insurance run. Leytón finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Rayo went 2-for-4.

The extra run proved vital. Huang Po-jui tripled with one out in the bottom of the seventh, and two walks loaded the bases. Gazo then retired the final two hitters without allowing a run, preserving Nicaragua’s first win of the tournament.

Group A tightens after two games

Nicaragua rebounded after being one-hit in a 3-0 opening loss to Australia. Chinese Taipei, which began the tournament with a 5-2 win over Czechia, also moved to 1-1.

The top three teams in each six-team opening-round group advance to the Super Round. Nicaragua’s victory kept the host nation firmly in that race after a night in which its early offense and late relief pitching held off repeated pressure.