2009 World Cup Updates

From the IBAf web Site.

 

 News and Notes from all the games for Saturday September 19, 2009

 

KEY MATCHUPS ON TAP SUNDAY: Sunday will be a decisive day in determining the rankings for the second round. One of the key games will be Cuba vs the Netherlands. For the full schedule of games check out 2009baseballworldcup.com/index.php

 

Spain 10 Great Britain 3:

 

Although Spain is currently still number seven, Mauro Mazzotti's baseball players still have a shot at the third round. This afternoon in Rotterdam they won their second game. Three runs, among which a solo homerun by Paco Figueroa, lead the team to a 3-10 victory on Great Britain.

 

Spain scored in the first inning after Dewis Navarro, with a sacrifice hit, struck home Daniel Figueroa. Spain built up this advantage to 1-3 via runs in the third and seventh inning. 

 

At that time the British team responded, having struck only two base hits in the first six innings. Three runs in a row levelled the score and forced Spain into action. 

 

This wasn't a problem. In the final moments of the game there were seven runs for the Spanish team. The man of the game was Paco Figueroa, who struck a solo homerun in the eight inning and one inning later he brought two team mates across the home plate with one of the four Spanish hits in the ninth and last inning.

 

Australia 5 Japan 0:

 

Adam Blackley and Brendan Wise combined on a six hitter as Australia shutout Japan 5-0 in Bologna.  Christopher Snelling went 2-3 with a sacrifice fly and a ninth inning home run for Australia, while Luke Hughes went 3-3 with an RBI. It was Australia's first shutout of the tournament, and was Japan's fifth straight loss in the World Cup. 

 

Cuba 5 South Korea 1:

 

With only two games remaining for each squad, tonight's game had huge implications for both teams.  For South Korea, a win would go a long way in their efforts to advance to the third round.  For Cuba, a win would ensure that it would advance, and would also keep alive its hopes of securing the number one overall seed.  

 

Both teams came out with a sense of purpose, each scoring a run in the first, but it was Cuba who would gain control of the game, and the lead, in the second.  A single by Alfredo Despaigne started off the inning, but after two quick outs, it appeared that South Korea was going to get out of the inning unscathed.  After a walk, Leonis Martin doubled in two runs, and Michel Enriquez added some insurance with an rbi single.  

 

That was plenty of offense for the Cuban pitchers, who once again put in a sterling performance.  Freddy Alvarez gave up one run in seven strong innings, and Jonder Martinez shut the door on the South Koreans in the eighth and ninth, striking out five in two innings of work.  

 

Puerto Rico 5 Venezuela 3:

 

Puerto Rico assured themselves of a spot in the third round by virture of their 5-3 win over Venezuela, who only scored in the seventh and ninth inning. Puerto Rico took the lead early on with a run in the third inning after a sacrifice hit by Luis Matos and built on that lead with two runs in the fourth inning on bases loaded singles from Angel Sanchez and Miguel Abreu. 

 

Venezuela struck back in the seventh inning with two runs after base hits by Dirimo Chavez and Lino Connel, but left three runners on base. Puerto Rico scored two runs in the eighth inning when tAbreu singled, giving him three rbi's. Venezuela only managed one more run in the ninth inning.  While Venezuela outhit Puerto Rico, they failed to capitalize on opportunities and left ten runners on base.  

 

Netherlands 8 Nicaragua 4:

 

The Netherlands continued their torrid pace by knocking off Nicaragua on Saturday Night.  A four run, 8th inning surge propeled the Netherlands into the lead, as homers were contributed by Curt smith and Yurendell DeCaster.  Two insurance runs were added in the ninth to add to the Netherlands lead and stymie the Nicaraguans comeback hopes.  Dennis Neuman got the late inning win.

 

Chinese Taipei 12 Netherlands Antilles 3:

 

The game opened up with offensive fireworks from both sides, with each team putting 3 runs on the board in the first inning, but only Chinese Taipei was able to sustain the offensive output for the rest of the game.  Taipei scored runs in six of the nine innings, including two in the third, fifth, eighth and ninth to easily put the game out of reach.  

 

Hung Yu Lin and and Han Lin both had three rbi's for the winning team, who picked up 19 hits as a team, including a 4-6 effort from Ming-Jen Kuo.  After allowing three runs in the first, the Chinese Taipei hurlers settled down and five pitchers combined to blank the Antilles the rest of the way.  

 

For the Antilles, Lorvin Louisa and Ardley Jansen provided almost all of the offensive, with the two players combining for four of the team's eight hits, its three rbi's, and its one home run, courtesy of Louisa.  

 

Canada 16 Italy 7:

 

Italy was leading 6-3 against Canada thanks to a great start of the offense against Canadian starter Chris Begg, who left the game without even collecting the first out after giving up a 3 RBI triple to right fielder Mario Chiarini.  Canada was able to bounce back immediately in the bottom of the first on a 3 RBI double by catcher Robinson and got to Italian lefty Camardese with three singles in a row and a grand slam by DH Frostad.  Canada added 6 more runs in the bottom of the 8th to win it 16-7

 

 

 

United States 7 Mexico 3:

 

Trevor Reckling pitched 5 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 earned run, to lead he United States to a 7-3 victory over Mexico on Saturday evening in Vicenza.  Designated Hitter Terry Tiffee went 4 for 5, with 2 RBIs for the U.S, and improved his tournament batting average to .361.  Tournament MVP candidate Justin Smoak went 2 for 5 at the plate as well.  The United States takes on Italy tomorrow, and Mexico will move on to face Australia.