Minnesota Twins – Netherlands 4-2
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The Netherlands concluded their exhibition schedule before the start of the 2009 World Baseball Classic with a 2-4 loss against the Twins. They finish up their warm-up series with two wins, three defeats and two ties.
Minnesota decided the outcome on Thursday through three runs in the seventh against reliever Berry van Driel (L 0-1, 0.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB). He faced five batters in the frame and couldn’t record one out. Leon Boyd came in with the bases loaded and was able to avoid more damage.
Eugene Kingsale and Vince Rooi scored the two Dutch runs in the fourth and ninth period, each came home on RBIs by Gregory Halman. Besides Rooi and Halman, only Yurendell de Caster and Sidney de Jong had hits for the Netherlands in the game, struggling against Twins pitching, which didn’t allow a hit until the eighth frame.
The hurlers of the Dutch team weren’t bad either. Tom Stuifbergen allowed two hits, a run and two walks in three innings, to start the contest. His brother Nick, Dennis Neuman, Diegomar Markwell and Pim Walsma also got work in, showing solid efforts. Only van Driel had his problems.
New York Mets – Italy 3-2
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The Italian World Baseball Classic team nearly collected its second win against a Major League club in two days and the third during the preparation phase. They needed two more outs to seal a 2-0 victory, when the Mets rallied and won 3-2. On Wednesday they defeated the Florida Marlins 5-1. Overall they finish the exhibition phase with a 2-5 record.
Corey Sullivan hit a two-run homerun of Kasey Olenberger (BS 1, L 0-1) in the bottom of the ninth, tying the score at two. Pinch hitter Daniel Murphy followed with a single and scored all the way from first on the decisive double by Jeremy Reed moments later.
Italy had taken the 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Frank Catalanotto opened the scoring, when Chris Denorfia brought him home with a RBI single. The A’s outfielder himself put the second run on the board through Giuseppe Mazzanti’s RBI single. Both hits run-scoring hits came with two outs.
The pitching of Italy impressed for eight-plus innings. Roberto Corradini started and gave up just one hit and a walk in two innings, striking out one. Cody Cillo, Chris Cooper, B.J. La Mura, Jason Grilli, Luca Panerati and Tiago Da Silva relieved him and combined to allow three hits and one base on balls over the next six innings.
Other results from World Baseball Classic contestants against MLB teams:
Boston Red Sox – Puerto Rico 5-9 Box score
Hector Mercado struck out four batters in three solid innings against the Red Sox. Ivan Rodriguez continued his hot hitting with three more hits, scoring twice for Puerto Rico. Felipe Lopez drove in two.
Philadelphia Phillies – USA 6-9 Box score
Team USA scored all nine runs between the third and fifth period in a 9-6 victory against reigning World Series champion Phillies. Chipper Jones and Adam Dunn connected for three-run homeruns, Ryan Braun and Brian McCann had solo shots. Ryan Howard, who declined an invitation to play for the USA, hit a three-run homerun against Matt Lindstrom. Jeremy Guthrie got the start and allowed two hits, a run and two walks in 2 1/3 innings.
Houston Astros – Panama 7-5 Box score
Panama blew a 5-1 lead against the Astros. The outcome was decided in the fifth, when reliever Rafael Medina gave up six runs, five of them unearned, on four hits and a walk in just two thirds of an inning. Ruben Rivera hit a solo homerun for the Dutch opponent in Pool D.
New York Yankees – Canada 0-6 Box score
Canada scored all of their runs in the first inning against Joba Chamberlain and Jon Albaladejo. Matt Stairs had two RBI. Scott Diamond induced just two walks in two innings, striking out two.
St. Louis Cardinals – Dominican Republic 4-1 Box score
Even with Albert Pujols missing in the lineup, St. Louis was able to defeat the Dominican World Baseball Classic squad. The Pool D favorite managed just one more hit in the last five innings. Robinson Cano had two of the five overall. At least starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez had a nice outing, going three innings, allowing two hits and a walk, while striking out four.
Atlanta Braves –Venezuela 8-4 Box score
Besides two bad outings from relievers Brad Nelson (0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB) and Victor Moreno (1.0 IP, 1 H, 5 ER, 4 BB), the Venezuelan pitching staff gave up just one hit and four walks against the Braves. For the third straight day Miguel Cabrera had two RBI for Venezuela.
Milwaukee Brewers – Australia 10-5 Box score
Australia’s starter Damian Moss started his appearance on the mound with three scoreless innings, before the Brewers offense exploded for six runs in the fourth on a Corey Hart two-run homerun and a grand slam by Casey McGehee. Justin Huber and Brad Harman homered for the Aussies.
Oakland Athletics – South Africa 6-1 Box score
More info and a complete report on this game on Friday morning.
Colorado Rockies – Mexico 3-7 Box score
Jorge Campillo started for Mexico and allowed two runs on three hits in three innings. The offense continued its hot streak from a day before, when they pounded the Diamondbacks. Against the Rockies Scott Hairston (3-4, 3 RBI, HR) and Co. had 14 hits more.
Australia and Mexico is playing two more exhibition games against MLB teams on Friday. All other World Baseball Classic participants travel to their first round destinations to start the tournament this weekend.