Team USA defeated Venezuela, 6-3, on October 9th in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This win meant that Team USA moved to 7 game wins - 0 losses in the Pan Am Qualifying games.
*Highlights from this game are below
FORMIDABLE OPPONENT: Team USA faced off against Venezuela today. Venezuela, the IBAF 9th ranked team in the world, is the last team to beat Team USA at the professional level when it outlasted the U.S., 13-9, in 11 innings on September 10, 2009 at the IBAF World Cup in Regensburg, Germany. Since then, Team USA professional teams have won 21 straight games in tournament play.
ANDRE THE GIANT: Milwaukee Brewers prospect Andre Lamontagne pitched three shutout innings in relief for Team USA. Lamontagne yielded just two hits while striking out four for the red, white and blue. Andre pitched at the Double-A level in Huntsville for the Brewers in 2009.
TROUT POWER: Mike Trout led off the game today for Team USA with his second home run of the tournament. Trout’s homer was a blast to centerfield that traveled approximately 415 feet. Trout, 19, hit 10 homers this season during stints in the Angels’ High and Low-A affiliates.
RAINING K’s: After a two-hour and two-minute rain delay, Team USA and Venezuela pitchers combined for 24 strikeouts with Venezuela striking out 13 U.S. hitters and the U.S. fanning 11.
TIEBREAKER RULE IN EFFECT: The international extra-inning tie-breaker rule, which was established by the IBAF in 2008, was put into play in the 12th inning of today’s game. The rule has each team start its half of the inning at any point in their lineup and with runners on first and second base. In the top half of the 12th, Team USA scored four runs, two coming on a Cord Phelps double, while Venezuela plated one in its half.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Canada 9 – Panama 5
Nicaragua vs. Puerto Rico – 7:30pm
Cuba vs. Dominican Republic – 4:00pm
Monday, October 11, 2010
Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 6
On October 8th, Team USA shutout Nicaragua with a final score of 5-0 in the opening game of Round 2 of the Pam Am Qualifying games. USA now holds 6 wins and zero losses in the tournament. The victory over Nicaragua qualified the USA team for 2011 Pan American games in October.
*Highlights from this game are below
PAN AM BOUND: With today’s victory the U.S. clinched a spot in the 2011 Pan American Games which will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico next October. The U.S. took silver at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio De Jainero, Brazil. Since 1951, with teams comprised mostly of collegiate level players, Team USA has won gold only once (1967), while winning the silver medal nine times (1951, 1955, 1963, 1971, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007) and the bronze three times (1959, 1983, 1991).
COACHES CORNER: Philadelphia Phillies Minor League Manager Roly de Armas is in his fifth stint as bullpen coach for Team USA. Roly, a member of the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies coaching staff that won the World Series, has been with team USA since 2006. de Armas has helped lead the U.S. to World Cup gold medals in both 2007 and 2009, a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and first place at the 2006 COPABE Olympic Qualifier in Havana, Cuba.
REDMOND DOMINANT: USA starter Todd Redmond moved to 2-0 in tournament play, pitching seven shutout innings while holding Nicaragua to just four hits and striking out six. Redmond, a member of the gold medal-winning 2009 World Cup squad moves his record to 5-0 with a 1.25 ERA in his two seasons with the Team USA.
ELECTRIC CORD: U.S. second baseman Cord Phelps went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead Team USA to victory. Phelps, a prospect in the Cleveland Indians organization, played his college baseball at Stanford.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Dominican Republic 5 – Canada 2
Cuba 4 Panama 1 – 7th inning
Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico – 7:30pm
*Highlights from this game are below
PAN AM BOUND: With today’s victory the U.S. clinched a spot in the 2011 Pan American Games which will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico next October. The U.S. took silver at the 2007 Pan Am Games in Rio De Jainero, Brazil. Since 1951, with teams comprised mostly of collegiate level players, Team USA has won gold only once (1967), while winning the silver medal nine times (1951, 1955, 1963, 1971, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007) and the bronze three times (1959, 1983, 1991).
COACHES CORNER: Philadelphia Phillies Minor League Manager Roly de Armas is in his fifth stint as bullpen coach for Team USA. Roly, a member of the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies coaching staff that won the World Series, has been with team USA since 2006. de Armas has helped lead the U.S. to World Cup gold medals in both 2007 and 2009, a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and first place at the 2006 COPABE Olympic Qualifier in Havana, Cuba.
REDMOND DOMINANT: USA starter Todd Redmond moved to 2-0 in tournament play, pitching seven shutout innings while holding Nicaragua to just four hits and striking out six. Redmond, a member of the gold medal-winning 2009 World Cup squad moves his record to 5-0 with a 1.25 ERA in his two seasons with the Team USA.
ELECTRIC CORD: U.S. second baseman Cord Phelps went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead Team USA to victory. Phelps, a prospect in the Cleveland Indians organization, played his college baseball at Stanford.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Dominican Republic 5 – Canada 2
Cuba 4 Panama 1 – 7th inning
Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico – 7:30pm
Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 5
On October 6th, Team USA finished 5-0 in Pan Am Qualifier Pool Play. USA defeated Panama in the final qualifying game with a final score of 10-2. With this win, Team USA advanced to round 2 of the Pan Am Qualifying games in Puerto Rico.
*Highlights of this game as well as the schedule for Round 2 are below.
DUFF’S ENOUGH: Left-hander Danny Duffy started for Team USA tonight and turned in five solid innings for the victory, giving up four hits and only a single run over that span. Duffy (1-0) pitched in Northwest Arkansas (AA) in the Kansas City Royals organization this season. Royals GM Dayton Moore was in attendance for the second night in a row.
COACHES CORNER: Chicago White Sox Minor League pitching coordinator Kirk Champion begins his fourth stint as pitching coach for Team USA. Champ, as he is known, won gold at the 2009 IBAF World Cup in Europe, took home silver at the 2001 World Cup in Taiwan, and he helped lead the U.S. pitching staff at the 2006 COPABE Olympic Qualifier in Havana, Cuba. Champ enjoys pretzels and Werthers caramel candies on team bus rides.
TROUT BREAKS OUT: USA center fielder and Angels farmhand Mike Trout continued his torrid hitting. Trout went 3-for-6 with a HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and a stolen base. In four games, Trout is 9-for-16 with six runs scored and four RBIs, good for a .563 average. The 19-year-old Trout, the Angels 2009 first round pick, hit .341 in 131 minor league games this year, stealing 56 bases and scoring 106 runs.
WHATTA RELIEF: Three U.S. relievers combined to pitch the final four innings. Bryan Henry (1 ER), Bruce Billings and Justin De Fratus scattered just three hits over the final four frames to lead the U.S. to its fifth straight victory and first place in its pool.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Canada 10 – Netherlands Antilles 1
Dominican Republic – Aruba – PPD
Argentina – Nicaragua – Late
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The local organizing committee for the 2010 COPABE Pan American Qualifier released the event schedule for Round 2 and the medal rounds, Thursday night. The schedule for Team USA is as follows for Oct. 8-13:
Round 2
Oct. 8 - Nicaragua, Paquito Montaner Stadium, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 7:30 p.m. EDT
Oct. 9 - at Venezuela, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Oct. 10 - at Canada, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Oct. 11 - Cuba, Paquito Montaner Stadium, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 7:30 p.m. EDT
Medal Rounds
Oct. 12 - TBD, Semifinals, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Oct. 13 - TBD, Finals, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The United States enters Round 2 action 3-0, as it brings with it only the victories against the other three advancing teams from its preliminary pool (Domincan Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama). The eight advancing teams (four from each of the two opening round pools) will take these three-game preliminary records and add them to their four-game records from the second round to create a new, seven-game record. From there, the teams are ranked 1-8. The top four advance to the medal rounds, Oct. 12-13. Additionally, the top seven finishing teams will join host Mexico in the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara.
Please visit www.USABaseball.com for more information. As a note, Internet availability is expected in Ponce and San Juan, and therefore live scoring for each game can be followed at www.USABaseball.com as well.
*Highlights of this game as well as the schedule for Round 2 are below.
DUFF’S ENOUGH: Left-hander Danny Duffy started for Team USA tonight and turned in five solid innings for the victory, giving up four hits and only a single run over that span. Duffy (1-0) pitched in Northwest Arkansas (AA) in the Kansas City Royals organization this season. Royals GM Dayton Moore was in attendance for the second night in a row.
COACHES CORNER: Chicago White Sox Minor League pitching coordinator Kirk Champion begins his fourth stint as pitching coach for Team USA. Champ, as he is known, won gold at the 2009 IBAF World Cup in Europe, took home silver at the 2001 World Cup in Taiwan, and he helped lead the U.S. pitching staff at the 2006 COPABE Olympic Qualifier in Havana, Cuba. Champ enjoys pretzels and Werthers caramel candies on team bus rides.
TROUT BREAKS OUT: USA center fielder and Angels farmhand Mike Trout continued his torrid hitting. Trout went 3-for-6 with a HR, 2 runs, 3 RBIs and a stolen base. In four games, Trout is 9-for-16 with six runs scored and four RBIs, good for a .563 average. The 19-year-old Trout, the Angels 2009 first round pick, hit .341 in 131 minor league games this year, stealing 56 bases and scoring 106 runs.
WHATTA RELIEF: Three U.S. relievers combined to pitch the final four innings. Bryan Henry (1 ER), Bruce Billings and Justin De Fratus scattered just three hits over the final four frames to lead the U.S. to its fifth straight victory and first place in its pool.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Canada 10 – Netherlands Antilles 1
Dominican Republic – Aruba – PPD
Argentina – Nicaragua – Late
ROUND 2 SCHEDULE SET FOR PAN AM QUALIFIER
Team USA to open against Nicaragua at 7:30 p.m. EDT in Ponce
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The local organizing committee for the 2010 COPABE Pan American Qualifier released the event schedule for Round 2 and the medal rounds, Thursday night. The schedule for Team USA is as follows for Oct. 8-13:
Round 2
Oct. 8 - Nicaragua, Paquito Montaner Stadium, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 7:30 p.m. EDT
Oct. 9 - at Venezuela, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Oct. 10 - at Canada, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2:00 p.m. EDT
Oct. 11 - Cuba, Paquito Montaner Stadium, Ponce, Puerto Rico, 7:30 p.m. EDT
Medal Rounds
Oct. 12 - TBD, Semifinals, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Oct. 13 - TBD, Finals, Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The United States enters Round 2 action 3-0, as it brings with it only the victories against the other three advancing teams from its preliminary pool (Domincan Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama). The eight advancing teams (four from each of the two opening round pools) will take these three-game preliminary records and add them to their four-game records from the second round to create a new, seven-game record. From there, the teams are ranked 1-8. The top four advance to the medal rounds, Oct. 12-13. Additionally, the top seven finishing teams will join host Mexico in the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara.
Please visit www.USABaseball.com for more information. As a note, Internet availability is expected in Ponce and San Juan, and therefore live scoring for each game can be followed at www.USABaseball.com as well.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 4
Team USA beat the Dominican Republic tonight, October 5th, 8 - 3. This win means that Team USA is 4-0 in the 2010 Pan Am Qualifying Tournament. Key points to this win: USA beat Dominican former Major league pitcher Bartolo Colon. and our winning pitcher 1st Lieutenant Nick Hill is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. It was a proud day for all the members of Team USA.
Read below for highlights from tonight's game or visit www.usabaseball.com for more information.
Arch Ally: Team USA starter Chris Archer pitched four solid innings for Team USA, limiting the Dominican Republic to three runs on four hits while striking out five batters. Archer, a top prospect in the Chicago Cubs system, was named the organization’s pitcher of the year this past season and was presented with the award last month in Chicago.
COACHES CORNER: Former Major League Manager Carlos Tosca is making his Team USA debut as third base coach. After serving as the third base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, Tosca was named manager and served in that capacity from 2002-2004. Tosca also held the job as bench coach for both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins.
CY NONE: 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon lasted just 2.1 innings tonight for the Dominican Republic. Colon gave up six runs on seven hits and walked a batter. Colon, now 37, was a two-time All-Star, winning 153 Major League games over a 13-year career that saw him pitch for five teams.
HILL ON THE HILL: Team USA pitcher Nick Hill (1-0) pitched three shutout innings in relief to record the victory. Hill, a graduate of West Point, scattered three hits and struck out three to earn the win. It was Hill’s second appearance in the tournament.
HOS STAYS HOT: USA first baseman and Kansas City Royals prospect Eric Hosmer went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Through the first four games of the tournament, Hosmer is hitting .455 with six walks, five runs scored and two RBIs.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Venezuela 3 – Nicaragua 2
Argentina 4 – Netherlands Antilles 3
Panama 12 – Aruba 4
Puerto Rico – Colombia – Late
Cuba vs. Canada – Late
Read below for highlights from tonight's game or visit www.usabaseball.com for more information.
Arch Ally: Team USA starter Chris Archer pitched four solid innings for Team USA, limiting the Dominican Republic to three runs on four hits while striking out five batters. Archer, a top prospect in the Chicago Cubs system, was named the organization’s pitcher of the year this past season and was presented with the award last month in Chicago.
COACHES CORNER: Former Major League Manager Carlos Tosca is making his Team USA debut as third base coach. After serving as the third base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, Tosca was named manager and served in that capacity from 2002-2004. Tosca also held the job as bench coach for both the Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins.
CY NONE: 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon lasted just 2.1 innings tonight for the Dominican Republic. Colon gave up six runs on seven hits and walked a batter. Colon, now 37, was a two-time All-Star, winning 153 Major League games over a 13-year career that saw him pitch for five teams.
HILL ON THE HILL: Team USA pitcher Nick Hill (1-0) pitched three shutout innings in relief to record the victory. Hill, a graduate of West Point, scattered three hits and struck out three to earn the win. It was Hill’s second appearance in the tournament.
HOS STAYS HOT: USA first baseman and Kansas City Royals prospect Eric Hosmer went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Through the first four games of the tournament, Hosmer is hitting .455 with six walks, five runs scored and two RBIs.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Venezuela 3 – Nicaragua 2
Argentina 4 – Netherlands Antilles 3
Panama 12 – Aruba 4
Puerto Rico – Colombia – Late
Cuba vs. Canada – Late
Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 3
Read below for highlights from the game or visit www.usabaseball.com for more information on Team USA & the 2010 Pan Am Qualifying Pool Play.
ROYAL FLUSH: Team USA was led to victory today over Colombia by a trio of Kansas City Royal prospects. Lefty Mike Montgomery (1-0) gave up two runs and scattered five hits over five innings while striking out six for the victory. He was helped out by fellow Royals future stars Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer. Moustakas went 2-for-5 with 3 RBIs and a run scored, while Hosmer, also 2-for-5, scored 2 runs and knocked in one.
COACHES CORNER: Former major leaguer Leon “Bull” Durham begins his first stint as Team USA hitting coach. “The Bull,” as he was known, played 10 seasons in the Major Leagues and was named to the National League All-Star Team in 1982 and 1983. Durham was a member of the 1984 N.L. East Champion Chicago Cubs. He is currently a coach in the Detroit Tigers organization.
RAINING RUNS: The seven runs scored by Team USA in the third inning against Colombia are the most in a single inning since Team USA scored seven against Chinese Taipei at the 2009 IBAF World Cup in Torino, Italy.
BALANCED ATTACK: Team USA pounded out 19 hits against Colombia pitching today. Every member of the U.S. starting lineup collected at least one hit and each scored at least one run, including outfielder Todd Frazier who replaced Brett Jackson in the 5th inning.
TROUT FISHIN’: USA outfielder Mike Trout reached base four times, going 3-for-5 with a walk, while knocking in 2 runs and scoring two more. The 19-year-old, who was a first round draft selection of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft, is the youngest member of Team USA.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Venezuela vs. Netherlands Antilles – 1:00pm
Canada vs. Argentina – 1:00pm
Nicaragua vs. Cuba – 7:30pm
Panama vs. Puerto Rico – 7:30pm
Aruba vs. Dominican Republic – 7:30pm
Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 2
This past Sunday, October 3rd, Team USA played Aruba in game 2 of the Pan Am Qualifying Pool Play in Puerto Rico. Team USA defeated Aruba 14-0 in a 7 inning game. Below are some highlights from the game.
OLYMPIC BLAST: Team USA shortstop Brian Barden crushed a two-run homerun to right-center in the third inning to put the U.S. up 2-0. Barden went 2-for-4 on the night with 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored. This is Barden’s second stint with Team USA. In 2008 he was a member of the Olympic squad that won bronze in Beijing. In eight Olympic Games, Barden hit .265 with a homer and five RBIs.
COACHES CORNER: Former major leaguer Jay Bell begins his first stint as first base coach for Team USA. A two-time All-Star, Bell played 18 seasons in the majors, compiling 1,963 hits for five different teams. His teams reached the postseason five times, and in 2001 while with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bell scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series to beat the New York Yankees in one of the most thrilling World Series games in MLB history. Bell won the Rawlings Gold Glove award in 1993 as a shortstop with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
DOCTOR K: Tonight’s U.S. starter Everett Teaford, currently in the Kansas City Royals organization, surrendered a single to Aruba’s first batter then pitched a five perfect innings, striking out 10 of the 15 batters he faced, to record the win and push Team USA to 2-0 in pool play.
GOOD EYE: U.S. first baseman Eric Hosmer has walked six times in nine plate appearances over the first two games. Hosmer walked 59 times in 579 plate appearances in the Minor Leagues this year.
GOOD GENES: USA reliever Bryan Henry entered the game in the sixth and retired the side in order, striking out two. Henry’s grandfather Larry Callaway is a member of the Senior Softball Hall of Fame. Callaway holds 35 national softball titles.
WELL TRAVELED: USA outfielder Jaime Hoffman of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization went 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored. Hoffman was selected by the New York Yankees in the 2009 Rule 5 Draft and was sent back to the Dodgers after Spring Training.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Nicaragua 8 – Netherlands Antilles 4
Venezuela 5 – Canada 3
Panama 5 – Colombia 3
Cuba vs. Argentina – Late
Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic – Late
OLYMPIC BLAST: Team USA shortstop Brian Barden crushed a two-run homerun to right-center in the third inning to put the U.S. up 2-0. Barden went 2-for-4 on the night with 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored. This is Barden’s second stint with Team USA. In 2008 he was a member of the Olympic squad that won bronze in Beijing. In eight Olympic Games, Barden hit .265 with a homer and five RBIs.
COACHES CORNER: Former major leaguer Jay Bell begins his first stint as first base coach for Team USA. A two-time All-Star, Bell played 18 seasons in the majors, compiling 1,963 hits for five different teams. His teams reached the postseason five times, and in 2001 while with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bell scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series to beat the New York Yankees in one of the most thrilling World Series games in MLB history. Bell won the Rawlings Gold Glove award in 1993 as a shortstop with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
DOCTOR K: Tonight’s U.S. starter Everett Teaford, currently in the Kansas City Royals organization, surrendered a single to Aruba’s first batter then pitched a five perfect innings, striking out 10 of the 15 batters he faced, to record the win and push Team USA to 2-0 in pool play.
GOOD EYE: U.S. first baseman Eric Hosmer has walked six times in nine plate appearances over the first two games. Hosmer walked 59 times in 579 plate appearances in the Minor Leagues this year.
GOOD GENES: USA reliever Bryan Henry entered the game in the sixth and retired the side in order, striking out two. Henry’s grandfather Larry Callaway is a member of the Senior Softball Hall of Fame. Callaway holds 35 national softball titles.
WELL TRAVELED: USA outfielder Jaime Hoffman of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization went 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored. Hoffman was selected by the New York Yankees in the 2009 Rule 5 Draft and was sent back to the Dodgers after Spring Training.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Nicaragua 8 – Netherlands Antilles 4
Venezuela 5 – Canada 3
Panama 5 – Colombia 3
Cuba vs. Argentina – Late
Puerto Rico vs. Dominican Republic – Late
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Dr. Mattalino's travels with USA Baseball in Puerto Rico, October 2010- Entry 1
I am currently traveling with USA baseball, as the team physician, as they compete in the 2010 COPABE Pan American Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. Yesterday, October 2nd, was our first game in the series against team Puerto Rico. Team USA defeated Puerto Rico (7-4) in front of a friendly, partisan baseball savvy crowd in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
Tonight, October 3rd, we play Aruba, once again in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
U.S. DEFEATS PUERTO RICO, 7-4, IN PAN AM QUALIFYING OPENER
Team USA to face Aruba, Sunday, at 7:30 p.m. EDT in Ponce
PONCE, Puerto Rico -- The USA Baseball Pan American Qualifying Team (PAQT) defeated host Puerto Rico, 7-4, Saturday night, in its opening game of the COPABE Pan American Qualifying Tournament. Saturday marked the first of five pool play games for the U.S., as it took its first step toward attempting to qualify for the 2011 Pan American Games.
Brett Jackson led all U.S. hitters, going 3-for-4, including a three-run home run in the sixth inning with Team USA leading, 4-3. Todd Frazier also hit a three-run shot, his highlighting a four-run second inning for the United States.
U.S. starter Todd Redmond (1-0) picked up where he left off as an ace with the gold medal-winning 2009 World Cup Team, going five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out four for the win. Tim Collins and Justin De Fratus combined for three and one-third innings of three-hit, one-run (none earned) relief.
The three-run blasts from Jackson and Frazier were the headlines for Team USA, as all of its runs came in the decisive second and sixth innings. Brad Eldred opened the second frame with a stand-up triple, and first baseman Eric Hosmer followed with a four-pitch walk. Frazier, a top prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, then hit the first pitch he saw from Puerto Rico starter Hiram Burgos over the left field fence to put the U.S. ahead 3-0. Later in the inning, Mike Trout lined a shot to left-center – hitting the wall in nearly the same place Eldred did earlier in the inning – and legged out a triple of his own on a close play at third, eventually scoring on the play via an errant relay by the shortstop.
Puerto Rico came back to within one, pushing a run across in the top of the fourth and two more in its half of the sixth, but in the bottom sixth frame, the U.S. put the game away for good. Frazier and Kratz led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and Trout executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Two batters later Jackson unloaded on an Efrain Nieves offering to right-center to push Team USA to a 7-3 lead.
De Fratus allowed one unearned run in the ninth as Puerto Rico attempted to mount a rally, but the right-hander got Neftali Soto to ground out to first to end the game.
Burgos (0-1) took the loss for Puerto Rico, and Jorge Padilla and Gabriel Martinez led all hitters for the host nation, both going 2-for-4.
The U.S. (1-0) next faces Aruba (0-2) at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night in Ponce.
Live scoring for all U.S. games will be available at www.USABaseball.com, the online home for USA Baseball. Please visit the site for schedule and roster information, tournament updates and more. Overall tournament information can be found by clicking here. Saturday night’s box score, cumulative stats and play-by-play are attached.
NOTES:
OPENING GAME TRENDS: Team USA lost the opener of the 2009 IBAF World Cup, a 13-9 loss to Venezuela, in extra-innings. Team USA went onto win its next 14 games en route to the 2009 IBAF World Cup gold medal. Team USA is 4-2 in its last six professional team tournament openers dating back to 2006.
COACHES CORNER: Former major leaguer Ernie Young begins his first stint as Manager of Team USA. Young was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team that won gold in Sydney, Australia and also served on the Team USA coaching staffs at the 2009 IBAF World Cup in Europe (gold) and the 2003 Olympic Qualifier in Panama.
ACTION JACKSON: Brett Jackson, who led Team USA with a .545 batting average during training camp in Cary, N.C., continued his torrid hitting going 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Jackson is an outfield prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization and attended and played baseball at Cal-Berkeley.
SMOKIN TODD FRAZIER: Cincinnati Reds prospect Todd Frazier put Team USA on the board with a three-run blast to left in the second inning. Frazier finished the night 2-for-4 with a HR, three RBIs and two runs scored. Frazier was the winning pitcher in the 1998 Little League World Series for champion Toms River, N.J., in Williamsport, Pa.
ACE RETURNS: U.S. starter Todd Redmond who went 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA in three starts for the 2009 World Cup gold medal team pitched 5.2 innings giving up 2 earned runs while striking out four and walking only one in his second stint with team USA.
NOTEABLE FANS IN ATTENDANCE: Former scout and Puerto Rican League star Jorge Posada, Sr., father of Yankee catcher and Puerto Rico native Jorge Posada, and former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause were in attendance at tonight’s game.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Colombia 9 – Aruba 2
Venezuela 4 – Argentina 0
Canada 7 – Nicaragua 6
Cuba vs. Netherlands – Postponed
Panama vs. Dominican Republic – Late
*Follow Dr. Mattalino updates as he travels in Puerto Rico with USA Baseball this month.*
Tonight, October 3rd, we play Aruba, once again in Ponce, Puerto Rico.
U.S. DEFEATS PUERTO RICO, 7-4, IN PAN AM QUALIFYING OPENER
Team USA to face Aruba, Sunday, at 7:30 p.m. EDT in Ponce
PONCE, Puerto Rico -- The USA Baseball Pan American Qualifying Team (PAQT) defeated host Puerto Rico, 7-4, Saturday night, in its opening game of the COPABE Pan American Qualifying Tournament. Saturday marked the first of five pool play games for the U.S., as it took its first step toward attempting to qualify for the 2011 Pan American Games.
Brett Jackson led all U.S. hitters, going 3-for-4, including a three-run home run in the sixth inning with Team USA leading, 4-3. Todd Frazier also hit a three-run shot, his highlighting a four-run second inning for the United States.
U.S. starter Todd Redmond (1-0) picked up where he left off as an ace with the gold medal-winning 2009 World Cup Team, going five and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out four for the win. Tim Collins and Justin De Fratus combined for three and one-third innings of three-hit, one-run (none earned) relief.
The three-run blasts from Jackson and Frazier were the headlines for Team USA, as all of its runs came in the decisive second and sixth innings. Brad Eldred opened the second frame with a stand-up triple, and first baseman Eric Hosmer followed with a four-pitch walk. Frazier, a top prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, then hit the first pitch he saw from Puerto Rico starter Hiram Burgos over the left field fence to put the U.S. ahead 3-0. Later in the inning, Mike Trout lined a shot to left-center – hitting the wall in nearly the same place Eldred did earlier in the inning – and legged out a triple of his own on a close play at third, eventually scoring on the play via an errant relay by the shortstop.
Puerto Rico came back to within one, pushing a run across in the top of the fourth and two more in its half of the sixth, but in the bottom sixth frame, the U.S. put the game away for good. Frazier and Kratz led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and Trout executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance both runners. Two batters later Jackson unloaded on an Efrain Nieves offering to right-center to push Team USA to a 7-3 lead.
De Fratus allowed one unearned run in the ninth as Puerto Rico attempted to mount a rally, but the right-hander got Neftali Soto to ground out to first to end the game.
Burgos (0-1) took the loss for Puerto Rico, and Jorge Padilla and Gabriel Martinez led all hitters for the host nation, both going 2-for-4.
The U.S. (1-0) next faces Aruba (0-2) at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday night in Ponce.
Live scoring for all U.S. games will be available at www.USABaseball.com, the online home for USA Baseball. Please visit the site for schedule and roster information, tournament updates and more. Overall tournament information can be found by clicking here. Saturday night’s box score, cumulative stats and play-by-play are attached.
NOTES:
OPENING GAME TRENDS: Team USA lost the opener of the 2009 IBAF World Cup, a 13-9 loss to Venezuela, in extra-innings. Team USA went onto win its next 14 games en route to the 2009 IBAF World Cup gold medal. Team USA is 4-2 in its last six professional team tournament openers dating back to 2006.
COACHES CORNER: Former major leaguer Ernie Young begins his first stint as Manager of Team USA. Young was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team that won gold in Sydney, Australia and also served on the Team USA coaching staffs at the 2009 IBAF World Cup in Europe (gold) and the 2003 Olympic Qualifier in Panama.
ACTION JACKSON: Brett Jackson, who led Team USA with a .545 batting average during training camp in Cary, N.C., continued his torrid hitting going 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a three-run home run in the sixth inning. Jackson is an outfield prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization and attended and played baseball at Cal-Berkeley.
SMOKIN TODD FRAZIER: Cincinnati Reds prospect Todd Frazier put Team USA on the board with a three-run blast to left in the second inning. Frazier finished the night 2-for-4 with a HR, three RBIs and two runs scored. Frazier was the winning pitcher in the 1998 Little League World Series for champion Toms River, N.J., in Williamsport, Pa.
ACE RETURNS: U.S. starter Todd Redmond who went 3-0 with a 1.21 ERA in three starts for the 2009 World Cup gold medal team pitched 5.2 innings giving up 2 earned runs while striking out four and walking only one in his second stint with team USA.
NOTEABLE FANS IN ATTENDANCE: Former scout and Puerto Rican League star Jorge Posada, Sr., father of Yankee catcher and Puerto Rico native Jorge Posada, and former Chicago Bulls GM Jerry Krause were in attendance at tonight’s game.
TODAY’S OTHER ACTION:
Colombia 9 – Aruba 2
Venezuela 4 – Argentina 0
Canada 7 – Nicaragua 6
Cuba vs. Netherlands – Postponed
Panama vs. Dominican Republic – Late
*Follow Dr. Mattalino updates as he travels in Puerto Rico with USA Baseball this month.*
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