FROM USA BASEBALL
(CARY, N.C.) – Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee State) went 4-5 with four RBI and Casey McGrew (Wright State) went 2-5 with four RBI of his own to lead the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) to an 18-0 blowout victory over Team Guatemala at Coleman Field at the National Training Complex, Friday.
Just one night after Team USA registered its first no-hitter in post-trials USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) history, USA started the game where it left off the night before.
Team USA went up big in the top of the first inning to take control of the game early. Michael Choice (UT Arlington) brought around the first runs of the game on a bases loaded RBI double to left-centerfield to put the U.S. ahead 2-0. Casey McGrew (Wright State) tallied two RBI of his own in the next at bat with a single through the right side, and Brentz added another two runs on a double to left centerfield.
The U.S. would finish the top of the first inning with eight runs after Tyler Holt (Florida State) hit an RBI single to short and Yasmani Grandal (Miami) scored on a double play.
Team Guatemala picked up its first base-hit in fifteen innings against Team USA in the bottom of the second inning. Mario Cruz hit a liner up the middle with two outs but Trevor Bauer (UCLA) collected his fourth strikeout on the day on Boris Bucaro to retire the side in the second. The Guatemalan National Team did not register a hit since the fourth inning of game one of the four-game series in Kannapolis, N.C.
Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) hit a base clearing triple to lead the U.S. in a six-run fourth inning to extend its lead over Guatemala to 14-0 and The U.S. scored four more runs over the fifth and sixth innings to extend its commanding lead over Team Guatemala, 18-0.
Bauer (1-0) kept the Guatemalan National Team at bay throughout the evening as he surrendered only two hits in his seven innings of work. Bauer finished with 13 strikeouts on the day and no walks. Starting pitcher Javier Liere suffered the loss as he gave up five earned runs without registering an out.
The finale of the four-game friendship series will be Saturday, July 4 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) in Durham, N.C at 6:05 PM. Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt) will take the mound for Team USA in his first starting appearance this summer. Fireworks will follow immediately after the game.
Game notes:
§ Attendance for Friday’s game was counted at 2,017….
· With the win, the USA Baseball National Team (Collegiate) has won 32 consecutive games dating back to last summer.
