Cincinnati Reds – Netherlands 4-3 (10)
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In another exhibition game before the start of the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the Dutch National Team lost on Wednesday evening in Sarasota, Florida 3-4 to the Cincinnati Reds. Luis Bolivar scored the decisive run in the bottom of the tenth on a wild pitch by reliever Berry van Driel (L 0-1, 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB).
Cincinnati had taken the lead after scoring two runs in the fourth on a balk by Netherlands reliever David Bergman (1.1 IP, 2 R, 0 ER) and a RBI single through Chris Dickerson. One period later Jay Bruce greeted Alex Smit (2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 SO) with a solo homerun to make it 3-0. Smit is regularly playing in the Reds organization.
However the Dutch team came back. After Randall Simon brought them on the board with a two-out RBI single in the sixth, Yurendell de Caster, who signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers a few weeks ago, tied the contest with a two-run homerun in the top of the seventh. In the end the Major Leaguers prevailed anyway.
Rick van den Hurk got the starting nod from manager Rod Delmonico and allowed three hits and two walks in 2 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out one. Juan Sulbaran (2 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Pim Walsma (1 IP, 2 BB) followed Bergman and Smit on the mound and held the Netherlands in the game with three solid innings. They will face the Minnesota Twins on Thursday at 2pm ET to conclude their exhibition schedule.
Results of the Wednesday afternoon exhibitions between MLB and World Baseball Classic Teams
Other evening games:
Los Angeles Angels – South Africa 13-6 Box score
Full Report coming later
Arizona Diamondbacks – Mexico 4-19 Box score
The Mexican World Baseball Classic team crushed the Diamondbacks 19-4 in an exhibition on Wednesday evening. Jerry Hairston Jr. (4 RBI), Jorge Cantu (Grand Slam, 6 RBI), Scott Hairston and Alfredo Amezaga (2-5, 5 runs, 2 RBI, BB) each hit homeruns. Starter Oliver Perez allowed one hit, two runs and a walk in 2 1/3 innings.
Tampa Bay Rays – Puerto Rico 1-2 Box score
Ivan Rodriguez and Ramon Vazquez drove in runs to lead Puerto Rico to a 2-1 victory over American League champion Rays. Jonathan Sanchez gave up just one hit in three innings to start the game.
Seattle Mariners – Australia 9-11 Box score
Seattle scored eight runs in the first three innings, but the Aussies came back and won 11-9 behind Brett Roneberg’s five-for-five performance with six RBI. Ben Risinger (4-5, 2 RBI), Luke Hughes and Justin Huber each scored three times. Travis Blackley and Craig Anderson pitched the first 3 2/3 innings for Australia and gave up eight runs on eleven hits and two walks.