Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 9

Team USA defeated Cuba (one of their toughest opponents), 4-1. This win earned USA a spot in the semifinals and the #1 ranking so far in the tournament. The first game of the Semifinals was held on Oct. 12th, with the USA playing the Dominican Republic.
Team USA undefeated record in this tournament earned them a spot in the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, tentatively scheduled for next October. And a spot in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup, date and location TBD.

*Highlights from the game are below

GOLDEN ARCHES: U.S. starter and Chicago Cubs 2010 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Chris Archer was dazzling Monday night, authoring six scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking none and striking out 10. Archer kept the Cuban lineup off-balance all night, not allowing a runner past first base in his final four frames.


BARD HITTIN’: With an infield hit in the first inning, Brian Barden moved his hit streak to six games (8-22, .364). The veteran of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team has played three positions for Team USA in the Pan American Qualifier, seeing time at left field, shortstop and second base.

OLD AQUAINTANCES: Kansas City Royals prospect Mike Moustakas was no stranger to Cuban starter Vladimir Garcia, having faced the righty just over four years ago in the quarterfinals of the COPABE Junior (18U) Pan American Championships. Moustakas played left field and batted clean-up for the 18U National Team, and finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored. As for Garcia, he came on in relief in the seventh inning and failed to record an out, allowing two earned runs on two hits. Moustakas slapped a two-run double down the left field line to get the U.S. on the board first Monday night, giving his team a lead it would not relinquish.

QUALITY QUALIFYING: By finishing in the top seven of the Pan Am Qualifier, the United States has punched its ticket to the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, tentatively scheduled for next October. Additionally, Team USA’s top-six finish guarantees it a spot in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup, date and location TBD.

FAMILIAR FOES: Monday marked the ninth time a USA Baseball Professional Team and Cuba have met since 2000, including the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The U.S. moves to 6-3 in those games. Prior to Monday’s game, Team USA had most recently faced its intercontinental rival last September in Italy, as it took home gold from the 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup.

SEMIFINAL BREAKDOWN: With the win, the U.S. is the No. 1 seed advancing from Round 2, while Cuba finishes the round as the No. 2. Earlier today, Venezuela defeated the Dominican Republic, 12-4, to finish third. Although both teams completed play with 4-3 records, Venezuela earned the tie-breaker with Monday’s win. Team USA will face the Dominican Republic in the 1 vs.4 game at 7:30 p.m. ET at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan on Tuesday night.



TODAY’S OTHER ACTION (Round 2 records):
2:00 p.m. ET (Ponce) – Panama 5 (3-4), Nicaragua 2 (0-7)
2:00 p.m. ET (San Juan) – Venezuela 12 (4-3)*, Dominican Republic 4 (4-3)**
7:30 p.m. ET (San Juan) – Canada (2-4), Puerto Rico (2-4) (Late)