World Baseball Classic Round two, Pool two: Venezuela – USA 10-6
USA 011 121 000 6 12 3 VEN 060 103 00X 10 15 1
Venezuela used a six-run second inning en route to a 10-6 victory over Team USA. It was their fifth consecutive win in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, which brings them first seed and home field advantage going into the semi-finals next weekend in Los Angeles. The American team also advances.
Max Ramirez hit a three-run homerun for Venezuela. Miguel Cabrera went three-for-five with two RBI. Cesar Izturis and Gerardo Parra each scored twice. Mark DeRosa had three hits, a homerun and three RBI for the USA. Brian Roberts scored two times. Adam Dunn, who filled in a first base for the injured Kevin Youkilis, committed two of the three American errors, which led to four unearned runs.
Armando Galarraga (W 1-0) gave up eight hits, three runs (2 ER) and three walks in 3 1/3 innings, striking out two. He was opposed by Jeremy Guthrie (L 0-1), who allowed six runs (2 ER) on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings.
Manager Davey Johnson and the American medical staff received new injury news before and following the game. Kevin Youkilis had to be scratched from the roster due to a left ankle sprain and joins Dustin Pedroia, Matt Lindstrom and Chipper Jones, who are already out of the 2009 WBC.
Additionally David Wright fouled a pitch off his left big toe yesterday, cracking the nail, but is hopefully to continue to play. The same goes for outfielder Ryan Braun (rib cage), who missed the past two games. They can replace up to three players on the roster before the start of the final round. Derrek Lee of the Chicago Cubs is the likely substitute for Youkilis at first.