The 2009 baseball World Cup concluded today with the gold medal match between the United States and Cuba. Team USA won the contest 10-5, thanks to 4.1 innings from Brad Lincoln, who picked up his third win of the tournament. In Lincoln’s 4.1 innings, he allowed six hits, three runs, one walk and two strikeouts.
Lincoln finishes the tournament with 23.1 innings pitched, a 2.70 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 12:6 K/BB ratio. His first start was the only game Team USA lost in the entire tournament, although the loss was not Lincoln’s fault. Lincoln left the game up 7-2 in the sixth inning, and saw the bullpen blow the lead and the game. Since that point, USA won 16 games in a row, with Lincoln getting three wins in three outings.
Pedro Alvarez went 0 for 4 today with two strikeouts. Alvarez finished the tournament with a .259/.339/.574 line and five homers in 54 at-bats. His only problem was that he struck out in over a third of his at-bats.
Yesterday Canada defeated Puerto Rico in the bronze medal game. Dustin Molleken and R.J. Rodriguez both pitched for their respective countries. Molleken pitched two shutout innings for Canada in their victory, allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out one. Molleken finished the tournament with 8.2 shutout innings in six appearances, four hits allowed, and a 3:2 K/BB ratio.
Rodriguez entered the game in the eighth inning with Puerto Rico down 3-2. He allowed three runs in 1.1 innings, on two hits, two walks, and a homer, while striking out two. The runs were the first of the tournament for Rodriguez, who pitched 8.1 innings in seven outings, with four saves, a 3.38 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, and a 7:6 K/BB ratio.
For stats and game logs of the Pirates prospects in the World Cup, check out the Winter League Tracker. The Arizona Fall League is the next league to start, with the first game occurring on October 13th.
