Olympics Day Two Wrapup
U.S. bounces back behind Strasburg
Team USA Update: The Americans dominated the Netherlands 7-0 in a game called in the ninth inning due to rain. San Diego State phenom Stephen Strasburg struck out 11 in seven innings to lead the way for the Americans, who even their record at 1-1. BA's wrapup here gives you the details, but the Washington Post's Dan Steinberg sets the scene well from Beijing in his DC Sports Bog.
Worth Noting: Cuba was down 5-3 in the sixth against Canada but got a pair of two-run homers by Alexander Malleta and Alfredo Despaigne, the latter coming off ex-big leaguer Chris Reitsma and breaking a 5-5 tie. The homers helped Cuba score seven runs on just five hits in the game, and the Cubans also capitalized on six walks and two Canadian errors . . . Lefty Adiel Palma remains 14-0 all-time in international play for Cuba, giving up five runs in 5-plus innings. He left trailing 5-3 . . . Four Japanese pitchers held Taiwan to four hits, and Japan put the game away with four runs in the top of the ninth for a 6-1 victory. Japan trailed 1-0 entering the fifth inning when Shinnosuke Abe homered to tie it up, and Japan got a perfect inning of relief by Kyuji Fujikawa, who struck out the side in the ninth to close the game . . . Host China's game with South Korea was suspended by rain and will be made up on Aug. 17, a scheduled day off . . . Taiwan's third baseman Chang-Tai Shan tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended for the tournament, leaving the team a player short. Chang didn't play in the first game, Taiwan's 5-0 win against the Netherlands due to the test result, released Thursday.
Prospect News: In hockey they give three stars, so here's three stars for Team Canada: Nick Weglarz (Indians) was the game's first star, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs, while fellow outfielder Michael Saunders (Mariners) also homered for Team Canada and gets star No. 2 . . . Third, Brewers first-round pick Brett Lawrie knocked in Canada's other run on an eighth-inning fielder's choice as Canada rallied but fell short . . . Taiwan's Che-Hsuan Lin (Red Sox) went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against Japan.
On Tap For Today: The U.S. faces Cuba as Cuba's difficult early schedule continues. If the Cubans can beat the Americans, they'd be 3-0 after having played both the U.S. and Japan as well as Canada, and virtually would be assured of the top seed in the medal round. A's farmhand Trevor Cahill will take the mound for Team USA; Cuba's starter was not yet available.
U.S. bounces back behind Strasburg
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Print| STANDINGS | ||
| Country | W | L |
| Cuba | 2 | 0 |
| South Korea |
1 | 0 |
| Canada | 1 | 1 |
| Japan | 1 | 1 |
| Taiwan | 1 | 1 |
| United States |
1 | 1 |
| China | 0 | 1 |
| Netherlands | 0 | 2 |
| Yesterday's Results | ||
| Cuba 7, Canada 6 Japan 6, Taiwan 1 U.S. 7, Netherlands 0 South Korea vs. China, ppd., rain |
||
| Today's Schedule (All Times ET) | ||
| China vs. Taiwan, 10:30 p.m. Cuba vs. United States, 11:30 p.m. |
||
| Tomorrow's Schedule | ||
| South Korea vs. Canada, 6
a.m. Netherlands vs. Japan, 7 a.m. |
||
Worth Noting: Cuba was down 5-3 in the sixth against Canada but got a pair of two-run homers by Alexander Malleta and Alfredo Despaigne, the latter coming off ex-big leaguer Chris Reitsma and breaking a 5-5 tie. The homers helped Cuba score seven runs on just five hits in the game, and the Cubans also capitalized on six walks and two Canadian errors . . . Lefty Adiel Palma remains 14-0 all-time in international play for Cuba, giving up five runs in 5-plus innings. He left trailing 5-3 . . . Four Japanese pitchers held Taiwan to four hits, and Japan put the game away with four runs in the top of the ninth for a 6-1 victory. Japan trailed 1-0 entering the fifth inning when Shinnosuke Abe homered to tie it up, and Japan got a perfect inning of relief by Kyuji Fujikawa, who struck out the side in the ninth to close the game . . . Host China's game with South Korea was suspended by rain and will be made up on Aug. 17, a scheduled day off . . . Taiwan's third baseman Chang-Tai Shan tested positive for a banned substance and has been suspended for the tournament, leaving the team a player short. Chang didn't play in the first game, Taiwan's 5-0 win against the Netherlands due to the test result, released Thursday.
Prospect News: In hockey they give three stars, so here's three stars for Team Canada: Nick Weglarz (Indians) was the game's first star, going 4-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs, while fellow outfielder Michael Saunders (Mariners) also homered for Team Canada and gets star No. 2 . . . Third, Brewers first-round pick Brett Lawrie knocked in Canada's other run on an eighth-inning fielder's choice as Canada rallied but fell short . . . Taiwan's Che-Hsuan Lin (Red Sox) went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts against Japan.
On Tap For Today: The U.S. faces Cuba as Cuba's difficult early schedule continues. If the Cubans can beat the Americans, they'd be 3-0 after having played both the U.S. and Japan as well as Canada, and virtually would be assured of the top seed in the medal round. A's farmhand Trevor Cahill will take the mound for Team USA; Cuba's starter was not yet available.
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