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Team USA Surprised by Italy

Team USA was taken by surprise today, losing to Italy by a score of 6-2. Team USA was held to 6 hits, and committed 3 errors. The Italians scored first, putting up 3 runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning. With two outs, USA starter Josh Outman (Phillies) gave up back-to-back singles. Italian LF Leonardo Zileri hit a grounder to SS Brian Bixler, which should have been the end of the inning — but the ball bounced past Bixler. Zileri was safe on the error, and one run scored. Jack Santora singled into center field, bringing in another run. Then Davide Dallospedale skipped a grounder just past 1B Andy LaRoche (Dodgers) and into right field, scoring the third run of the inning.

Team USA came right back in the next inning. Justin Ruggiano (Rays) led things off with a solo home run. Brian Bixler surprised Italian 3B Alex Liddi by laying down a perfect bunt that trickled two-thirds of the way up the third-base line, for an infield single. Bixler was apparently annoying Italian starter Matteo D’Angelo, who made 5 pick-off throws over to first base. Unfortunately, the 5th throw was too close, and Bixler was called out. Bixler and USA manager Davey Johnson were both astonished by the call, and Johnson came out of the dugout to protest, but Bixler was still out. Brad Rasmus (Cardinals) doubled into right field, and Jayson Nix (Rockies) was hit by a pitch, and they both scored on LaRoche’s RBI double.

The Italians added three more runs in the 4th inning, sparked by two more Team USA errors. Luis Serafin De Camargo led off with a grounder toward shortstop, which bounced off Bixler’s glove for the second error of the game. De Camargo moved to second base when pitcher Jerry Blevins (A’s) made a wild pickoff throw to first base. Santora walked, and then De Camargo and Santora executed a double steal. Dallospedale grounded to second base, which allowed De Camargo to score. Maximiliano De Biase singled to bring in Santora, and a double by Lorenzo Avagnina scored De Biase.

Team USA threatened in the 9th inning, loading the bases with two outs, but they couldn’t push across any more runs.

Brian Bixler went 1-for-3, with the bunt hit and two strikeouts. Steve Pearce came in to pinch hit for Bixler in the 9th inning, and he also struck out.

Other scores:
Group A:
Spain 7, South Africa 4
Taipei 6, Japan 1
Panama 3, Mexico 2

Group B:
Korea 18, Thailand 2 — This game was stopped after seven innings because of the Mercy Rule, as were Thailand’s first two games. But Thailand did score two runs in this game, and they deserve credit for showing up and trying.
Netherlands 15, Germany 5
Australia 7, Venezuela 4 — The Aussies had their second exciting game in two days. Venezuela scored all four of their runs in the second inning, with a bases-loaded triple and a single. But the Aussies chipped away at the lead, with a lot of help from Brett Roneberg, who went 2-for-4 with a walk. In the 4th inning, Roneberg smacked a double of the wall in the left field corner, and then scored Australia’s first run on Tom Brice’s single. In the 6th inning, with runners on first and third and no outs, Roneberg hit an infield grounder. It should have been a double play, and in fact the runner going from first to second was forced out, but the shortstop’s throw went wild, and Roneberg not only was safe at first, but was able to advance to second base, and the runner from third base scored. Roneberg then attempted to steal third base, and was throw out. Brice also came through again, with a solo home run, to bring Australia within one run. Two doubles in the 7th inning tied the score, and the tie held until the bottom of the 11th inning. Roneberg led off the 11th wing his second double of the game, this one into center field. A sacrifice bunt from Tom Brice moved Roneberg to third base. Matthew Kent was intentionally walked, bringing up Luke Hughes. Hughes was the hero — he blasted a walk-off 3-run homer to give Australia the win.

Cuba 6, Canada 3 — Team Canada put up 11 hits, but left most of those base runners stranded on base. Kevin Nicholson (former Padres player) went 4-for-4 with three doubles in the game, including the double that knocked in two of Canada’s runs in the 9th inning. It wasn’t enough to overcome Cuba, though. Cuba scored on two solo home runs, and then a 4-run 7th inning. Jamie Romak was hitless in 4 at-bats, and has not had a hit yet in the tournament.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 9th, 2007 at 2:51 pm and is filed under Baseball World Cup, USA Baseball, Brian Bixler, Steve Pearce, Jamie Romak. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.