Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 8

Team USA defeated Canada, 4-0, to Stay an Undefeated 8-0 in Pan Am Qualifying on October 10, 2010. The game was held at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

*Highlights from the game are below.

K MACHINE: With his two strikeouts in the fifth, starter Mike Montgomery finished with eight for the game, pushing his tournament total to a team-leading 14. The lefty overtook fellow Kansas City Royals prospect Everett Teaford (13).


HIT PARADE: By going 1-for-3 Sunday, Brian Barden has logged at least one base hit in each game he has played in the tournament (7-for-19 in five games). His .368 average is good for second on the team (Brett Jackson, .667). Barden is a two-time USA Baseball alum, having previously donned the red, white and blue for the bronze medal-winning 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team.

MOOSE BREAKS LOOSE: Mike Moustakas, who entered Sunday’s tilt with a .200 average, despite being tied for the team lead with six RBIs, found his stride at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored to raise his average 50 points.

QUITE THE OPENING ACT: For the second day in a row, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim prospect led off the game with a home run. Sunday’s shot to left was the 19-year-old’s team-leading third of the tournament and came on an 0-1 count.

FAMILIAR FOES: Sunday marked the 14th time since 2008 that a USA Baseball Professional Team has faced Canada in international competition, including exhibitions. Team USA is 12-1-1 in those games.

UPCOMING OPPONENT PREVIEW: The U.S. will face intercontinental rival Cuba on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET in Ponce’s Paquito Montaner Stadium to conclude Round 2 play. Cuba is 6-1, 4-1 heading into Sunday’s game against Puerto Rico, its lone loss coming Saturday night against the Dominican Republic, 9-6. Cuba and the U.S. have a long history of competition, with USA Baseball’s Professional Teams holding the advantage five games to three since 2000, including the Sydney Olympic Games. Most recently, Team USA defeated Cuba, 10-5, to take home the gold medal from the 2009 World Cup in Italy.

TODAY’S OTHER ACTION (Round 2 records):
1:00 p.m. ET (Ponce) – Venezuela (3-2), Panama (1-4)
5:00 p.m. ET (Ponce) – Dominican Republic (3-2), Nicaragua (0-5)
7:30 p.m. ET (San Juan) – Cuba (4-1), Puerto Rico (2-3)