Baseball World Cup Round 3, Nettuno:
Netherlands – USA 2-8
USA 010 006 010 8 13 3 NED 000 000 200 2 5 1
Team USA concluded the third round with an 8-2 victory against the Netherlands. It was their 13th consecutive win at the 2009 Baseball World Cup. The Dutch team dropped to 3-4 and third place in Pool G. They will play the game for fifth place in Messina against Australia.
Ike Davis put the USA in front with a solo homerun in the top of the second. The Dutch team stayed close until the sixth, when six American runs blew the game wide open. Buck Coats and Justin Smoak each hit two-run singles. Hainley Statia had a RBI double and Yurendell de Caster a RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout against the Netherlands.
Kasey Kiker (W 1-0) allowed just one hit and two walks in six scoreless innings, striking out six. Diegomar Markwell (L 1-1) gave up ten hits, seven runs (6 ER) and four bb in 5 2/3 innings. David Bergman and Nick Veltkamp also pitched for the Dutch team.
1,000 people watched the game in Nettuno. Team USA is off on Saturday before facing Cuba in the championship game on Sunday at the same ballpark.