Daily Archives: 11:09 pm

Sept 24th

LF Josh Kroeger’s 3 hit and DH Terry Tiffee’s homer led Team USA’s offense to a win over Cuba. �The USA’s first run was unearned. �In the bottom of the 1st, SS Trevor Plouffe (Twins) reached base on a fielding error and scored on RF Ike Davis’ (Mets) RBI double. �Team USA scored 3 runs in the 3rd, all coming after two outs. �Terry Tiffee (Phillies) smacked a 2-run homer, then 3B Pedro Alvarez walked, and he scored on singles by Josh Kroeger (White Sox) and C Jason Castro (Astros). �Kroeger gave Team USA an insurance run in the 8th, when he led off with a single, moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Castro, and scored on CF Buck Coats’ (Blue Jays) RBI single. �

USA starter Trevor Reckling (Angels) needed 9 pitches in a perfect 1st inning, but strained a left lateral muscle as he was warming up to begin the 2nd inning, and had to be removed from the game. �Lucas Harrell (White Sox) took over for Reckling, and he allowed only a walk and a single over the next 4 innings. �BJ Rosenberg (Phillies) retired the Cubans in order in the 6th, but gave up a home run to lead off the 7th. �The homer was followed by a single, a double, and a walk, for another run, and Rosenberg was relieved by Cedrick Bowers (Phillies). �Bowers got the first batter he faced to bounce into a double play, but another run scored on a play. �Those were all the runs Cuba would score, though, and Team USA won their 12th straight tournament game. �Lucas Harrell earned the win, and Ehren Wassermann (White Sox) earned his first save in the tournament with 2.1 scoreless innings of work. �Pedro Alvarez went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Sept 25th

A 6-run 6th inning boosted Team USA to a win over the Netherlands. �Team USA recorded a total of 13 hits, while holding the Dutch batters to just 5. �1B Ike Davis gave the USA a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the 2nd inning. �The USA batters had at least one runner on base in each of the next 4 innings, but didn’t score again until the 6th. �RF Josh Kroeger opened the inning with a double. �After two quick outs, 3B Pedro Alvarez walked and 2B Tug Hulett (Royals) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. �CF Buck Coats brought in Kroeger and Alvarez with a 2-RBI single, and after SS Daniel Descalso (Cardinals) walked, DH Justin Smoak (Rangers) knocked another 2_RBI single, to bring in Coats and Hulett. �The throw in from left field went wide, allowing Descalso to score too. �LF Jon Weber’s (Rays) RBI single plated Smoak, and the USA had a 7-0 advantage. �They added one more in the 8th, when Tug Hulett tripled and scored on Coats’ sacrifice fly. �

Kasey Kiker (Rangers) made the start and took the win for Team USA. �He pitched 6 scoreless innings, allowing 2 walks and only one hit — a single by former Pirate farmhand 3B Yurendell de Caster — with 6 strikeouts. �Geno Espineli (Giants) pitche the 7th inning and gave up the 2 Netherlands’ runs on 3 hits: �a single, a double, and an RBI single by de Caster. �Former Indy Indian (2002 – 04) Jason Childers (Rays) allowed one hit in his scoreless 8th inning, and Nate Field (Marlins) retired the side in order in the 9th. �

Pedro Alvarez had a single and a double in the game. �Former Pirate 1B Randall Simon went 0-for-4 for the Netherlands.

The win gave Team USA a perfect record in Round 3 of the tournament, and advanced them to the Gold Medal Game, which they won. �

Other games on Sept 24th

3B Yurendell de Caster singled and doubled for the Netherlands and 1B Randall Simon singled. �Pirates’ farmhand Dustin Molleken pitched 2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing only one hit.

Former Indy Indian LF Chris Snelling had a double and walked with 2 RBI for Australia. � Another former Pirate farmhand Paul Mildren pitched 2 scoreless innings allowing a walk and 2 hits. �

Other games on Sept 25th

RJ Rodriguez earned his 4th save in the tournament, with a scoreless 9th inning, allowing only one walk. �Former Indy Indian LF Chris Snelling went 0-for-4 for the Australians.

In the semi-final round on Sept 26th:

The Netherlands out-hit Australia 8-6, but the Aussies came out on top. �1B Yurendell de Caster went 0-for-4, and DH Randall Simon was hitless in one plate appearance for the Netherlands. �LF Chris Snelling went 0-for-3 for Australia.

Two Pirates’ pitchers appeared in this game. �Dustin Molleken pitched 2 scoreless innings for Canada. �RJ Rodriguez pitched 1.1 innings, and allowed 3 runs on 2 hits, including a 2-run homer, and 2 walks. �

Final Standings:

Gold Medal: �USA

Silver Medal: �Cuba

Bronze Medal: �Canada

4th: Puerto Rico:

5th: Australia

6th: Netherlands

7th: Venezuela

8th: Taipei