FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
(DURHAM, N.C.) – Former World Series-Winning Manager Jack McKeon saw Tyler Holt (Florida State) reach base safely six times, hit two doubles and lead the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) to a 14-5 come from behind win over Team Canada at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Saturday.
Team USA was pressured immediately by Team Canada as it tagged five funs on USA started Trevor Bauer (UCLA). Canada pieced together five hits and one walk on Bauer for its first lead of the series after Ryan Johnson hit a two-RBI double down the left field line.
The U.S. received three free passes to begin the bottom of the first as Holt began the game with a walk, Christian Colon (Fullerton) was hit by a pitch and Andy Wilkins (Arkansas) walked to load the bases early. Holt then faked a steal home and forced a balk to score Team USA’s first run of the game.
Seven runs crossed the plate for the U.S in the bottom of the fifth inning to erase its four-run deficit. Matt Newman (Arizona State) got USA’s first hit on the day with a single through the left side to load the bases with no outs after Canada starter Paul Barton, a 39th round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds, put two runners on base. Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) then hit an RBI single to a diving right fielder and forced Canada to its bullpen.
Evan Rutckyj inherited the bases loaded with no outs and immediately pitched four straight balls to Wilkins for another U.S. run before Rick Hague (Rice) drove the first pitch he saw up the middle for a two-RBI single to tie the game. The U.S. tallied three more runs when Jeremy Schaffer (Tulane) lined a strike down the left field line for two RBI and an error by the outfielder brought the runner in from first to put Team USA ahead for the first time on the night, 8-5.
Rutckyj (0-1) suffered the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in one inning of work. Barton gave up two hits, five runs and six walks in the first four.
The U.S. scored five more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on reliever Nicholas Pivetta. With the bases loaded, Holt picked up the first extra-base hit of the day as his double down the right field line brought in two runs. Newman, Colon and Kolten Wong (Hawaii) each earned an RBI in the inning as Team USA led 13-5.
Team USA scored its final run of the game in the eighth inning when Newman’s RBI single through the right side brought in Holt from second base.
T.J. Walz (Kansas) received the win for the U.S. coming on in relief. Walz (1-0) tallied nine strikeouts and allowed only one hit.
Florida Marlins’ 2003 World Series-Winning Manager Jack McKeon filled in for Rick Jones (Tulane) as the field manager for today’s game. In his first appearance as a coach for Team USA, McKeon led the team to a come from behind victory.
“It has always been one of my goals to be fortunate enough to coach one of the USA Baseball teams,” said McKeon. “After being around Tommy LaSorda so much and to hear him talk about how great it was to coach the U.S. Olympic Team, it gave me a thrill that really made me want to be a part of that success.”
McKeon made sure to spread his knowledge and love of the game with the team in his one day tenure.
“I told them that I know all of these guys have dreams to one day become a major league ballplayer. I told them that they have to have pride in their abilities to be successful, and that the road to success is always under construction.”
The fourth game of the five game series against Team Canada will continue, Sunday, June 28 in Durham, N.C. at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park at 5:05 PM.
Team USA will not hit batting practice at Sunday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. The National Team will take infield at 3:50 PM at the Durham Bulls Ballpark. Cody Wheeler (Coastal Carolina) is slated to take the mound for the United States.
Game notes:
- Attendance for Friday’s game was counted at 3,079.With the win, the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) has won 27 consecutive games dating back to last summer.Former World Series-Winning manager Jack McKeon made his first appearance in Durham, N.C. in a baseball uniform for the first time since 1968, Saturday night. The last time McKeon was in uniform in Durham, he was a member of the High Point Hi-Toms.
