Baseball World Cup Pool G, Torino:
Italy – USA 3-12
USA 003 230 301 12 17 2 ITA 001 200 000 3 3 0
Justin Smoak extended his homerun lead in the 2009 Baseball World Cup with two more long balls on Sunday evening in Torino. He went deep in the third and the fifth to lead Team USA to an easy 12-3 win over host Italy. Buck Coats and Trevor Plouffe also homered. All nine players in the starting lineup at least got one hit. Italy was able to cut the deficit to 3-5 after four innings, but they couldn’t score again afterwards. Kasey Kiker walked seven batters in three-plus innings. Lucas Harrell picked up the win. Sandy Patrone took the loss after three hits, three runs and three bb in 2 2/3 innings. Both teams will conclude the second round on Monday with make-up games after rainouts in the past week. Team USA faces Australia in a battle for first place in Pool G. Italy will play against the Netherlands Antilles, hoping for their second victory in the tournament.