The three front runners for the medals - Japan, Cuba and Canada - have all started with two wins. Canada took advantage of some erratic defence and scored 9 runs in the first two innings on route to a 9-3 victory over Italy. Check out the gory details from Canadian Press here.
The pivotal 2nd inning began harmlessly enough - with a Todd Betts groundout. Ryan Radmanovich singled and Jeff Guiel hit a bouncer to the third baseman whose errant throw was not corraled by the first baseman. Adam Stern hit a solid single to drive in the third run of the game, taking second on the throw with Guiel going to third. With the Italian infield drawn in, Pete Orr ripped a grounder through second baseman Dallospedale. The poor second sacker was unjustly charged with an error while Guiel scored. Next up, Stubby Clapp. After Orr stole second, Stubby ripped a triple over the rightfielder's head to plate 2 runs. 6-1 Canada. Klassen walked and that spelled the end for starter David Rollandini. Lefthander Fabio Milano came in to face lefthanded hitter Pierre-Luc Laforest.
Laforest blasted the ball into the howling wind for a 3-run shot to rightfield. It was 9-1 and the Canucks put it into cruise mode after that. Kudos to Italy for resisting the temptation of bringing in lots of Italian-Americans and going (for the most part) with players from their domestic league.
Chieh-ming Wang, of the AAA Columbus Clippers, got the start for Taiwan against Australia. Rockies prospect Chin-hui Tsao was deployed as a closer in the 8th inning. A 3-0 victory over Australia was the result, and the Taiwan Times has a game story. They mistaken refer to third baseman Glenn Williams as a Canadian (perhaps they are confused about his status as a Blue Jays farmhand). This loss might be the one that eventually keeps the Aussies out of the medal round.
Greece almost pulled off a miracle comeback, but the three runs they scored in the 9th fell one short as Cuba emerged with a 5-4 victory. I think the Cubans are merely playing possum and will bare their fangs in the medal round. Star Orioles prospect Nick Markakis drove in two with a two-out triple. Nicholas Theodorou's single plated Markasis to bring the upstarts within one. Star closer Pedro Luis Lazo (the Cuban Lee Smith) was brought in and struck out James Kavourias to end the game.
Canada next takes on the Dutch, who hung tough against Japan before bowing 8-3. Former Jays farmhand Diegomar Markwell started for Holland and kept his team in the game. The underdogs held a 3-2 lead until Japan scored 2 in the 5th. Japan added a 4-spot in the 8th to ice the game.
Canada-Netherlands begins at 3:30 AM on TSN.
The pivotal 2nd inning began harmlessly enough - with a Todd Betts groundout. Ryan Radmanovich singled and Jeff Guiel hit a bouncer to the third baseman whose errant throw was not corraled by the first baseman. Adam Stern hit a solid single to drive in the third run of the game, taking second on the throw with Guiel going to third. With the Italian infield drawn in, Pete Orr ripped a grounder through second baseman Dallospedale. The poor second sacker was unjustly charged with an error while Guiel scored. Next up, Stubby Clapp. After Orr stole second, Stubby ripped a triple over the rightfielder's head to plate 2 runs. 6-1 Canada. Klassen walked and that spelled the end for starter David Rollandini. Lefthander Fabio Milano came in to face lefthanded hitter Pierre-Luc Laforest.
Laforest blasted the ball into the howling wind for a 3-run shot to rightfield. It was 9-1 and the Canucks put it into cruise mode after that. Kudos to Italy for resisting the temptation of bringing in lots of Italian-Americans and going (for the most part) with players from their domestic league.
Chieh-ming Wang, of the AAA Columbus Clippers, got the start for Taiwan against Australia. Rockies prospect Chin-hui Tsao was deployed as a closer in the 8th inning. A 3-0 victory over Australia was the result, and the Taiwan Times has a game story. They mistaken refer to third baseman Glenn Williams as a Canadian (perhaps they are confused about his status as a Blue Jays farmhand). This loss might be the one that eventually keeps the Aussies out of the medal round.
Greece almost pulled off a miracle comeback, but the three runs they scored in the 9th fell one short as Cuba emerged with a 5-4 victory. I think the Cubans are merely playing possum and will bare their fangs in the medal round. Star Orioles prospect Nick Markakis drove in two with a two-out triple. Nicholas Theodorou's single plated Markasis to bring the upstarts within one. Star closer Pedro Luis Lazo (the Cuban Lee Smith) was brought in and struck out James Kavourias to end the game.
Canada next takes on the Dutch, who hung tough against Japan before bowing 8-3. Former Jays farmhand Diegomar Markwell started for Holland and kept his team in the game. The underdogs held a 3-2 lead until Japan scored 2 in the 5th. Japan added a 4-spot in the 8th to ice the game.
Canada-Netherlands begins at 3:30 AM on TSN.
