FROM USA BASEBALL
(DURHAM, N.C.) – Rick Hague (Rice) went 3-5 with two doubles and three RBI and Gerrit Cole (UCLA) pitched lights out for six and two-thirds innings to lead the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) to an 8-1 win over Team Canada at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Friday night.
Tyler Holt (Florida State) led the game off with a stand up double and stole third base on Canadian starting pitcher and sixth round draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, Steven Inch. Hague would knock in one of the two runs scored on Inch on the night as he outran a single to the shortstop to score Holt.
The second run scored for the U.S. on Inch would come in the fifth inning by Hague. After slicing a double to right field, he moved over on a sac bunt by Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) before scoring on a wild pitch for the 2-0 lead.
Ethan Stewart replaced Inch on the mound for the sixth inning and Team USA added three more runs, again led by Hague. Michael Choice (UT Arlington) and Rob Segedin (Tulane) hit back-to-back singles up the middle to begin the sixth and Hague delivered his second double of the night to the warning track. He would later score on a single by Colon for a 5-0 lead.
Cole pitched solid baseball in the meantime. On the night, Cole pitched six and two thirds inning, touching 99 mph on numerous occasions. He surrendered only three hits and struck out 12 batters without giving up a run.
After the U.S. scored another run in the eighth inning, Canada plated its first run of the game on reliever Tony Zych (Louisville). Andrew Ruck walked and would later score on a fielding error by Colon to break the shut out.
Team USA finished its scoring on the night after Rob Segedin (Tulane) hit a two run bomb over the Blue Monster in left centerfield.
Closer Chad Bettis (Texas Tech) came on in the ninth with a seven run cushion and made quick work of the Canadian batters. Bettis forced two ground outs and struck out the final batter to end the game.
Cole (1-0) got the win while Inch (0-1) was tagged with the loss. With the win, Team USA is 2-0 on the summer.
The third game of the five game series against Team Canada will continue, Saturday, June 27 in Durham, N.C. at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Team USA will hit batting practice at 3:00 PM at the USA Baseball National Training Complex before its game, Saturday. Trevor Bauer (UCLA) is slated to take the mound for the United States.
Game notes:
- Attendance for Friday’s game was counted at 5,663.
- With the win, the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) has won 26 consecutive games dating back to last summer.
- From 6:10 – 6:30 PM the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) will be signing autographs at its dugout preceding Game 3 of the friendship series against Canada at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
- Former World Series-Winning manager Jack McKeon will fill in as the field manager for Saturday’s game.
