FROM USA BASEBALL RELEASE
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(CARY, N.C.) – Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) and Andy Wilkins (Arkansas) both hit a two-run home run and Team USA pieced together a 12-4 victory over Team Canada, Thursday, in the first game of the friendship series at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C.
Tyler Holt (Florida State) drew a lead off walk to start the game for the United States and Kolten Wong (Hawaii) moved him over on a first-pitch single up the middle to put runners on the corners with no outs. Colon immediately put the U.S. on board when he tallied an RBI on a routine double play, plating the first run for Team USA on the summer.
With the 1-0 lead and Michael Choice (UT Arlington) on second base, Rick Hague (Rice) placed a perfect bunt for a single that forced an errant throw by the third baseman to advance him to third. But an errant through from the right fielder attempting to catch Hague out at third sailed past the baseman and allowed Hague to score, putting the U.S. ahead 3-0.
Team USA capped its scoring in the third with a towering two-run home run to left field by Colon for the five-run lead.
Starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz (Mississippi) ran into a jam in the fourth inning when Canada got on the board with three consecutive hits, bringing the score to 5-1. Pomeranz walked the next batter to load the bases with only one out but struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
Wilkins’ two-run homer to right field highlighted the five run bottom of the fifth and the U.S. picked up another run in the bottom of the sixth inning due to a Canadian error, extending its lead to 10 before Canada threatened again.
Canada picked up three runs in the top of the eighth inning on reliever Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee State). Brentz surrendered five walks and one hit in the top half of the inning for all three of the Canadian runs and left the bases loaded for reliever Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt), who pitched Team USA out of trouble.
Rob Segedin hit an RBI triple to right-center in the eighth to score Team USA’s final run of the game.
Drew Pomeranz (1-0) received the first win for the U.S. on the summer as his predetermined four innings resulted in one run scored on four hits and 10 strikeouts. Jake Eliopolous (0-1) took the loss for Team Canada.
Colon went 3-4 with four RBI and four runs scored on the day. Hague and Wilkins chipped in by going 2-3 for the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate).
Team USA and Team Canada will face off again Friday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. for the second game of the five-game series. For tickets, visit USABaseball.com or the Durham Bulls web site.
