Team USA Wins Third Straight in Arizona

Complete Coverage of USA Baseball

By John Manuel
October 15, 2003

After being blown out in its first game of Arizona Fall League play, Team USA has gotten its act together in a hurry.

Team USA improved to 3-1 in its two-week AFL schedule, getting another solid all-around effort to beat the Mesa Desert Dogs 6-2. Five pitchers combined on the victory for Team USA, which out-hit the Desert Dogs 11-9 and didn't commit an error. The team has outscored its last three opponents by an aggregate 31-5 score after losing its opening game 8-2.

Team USA jumped in front early with three runs in the first off Mesa starter Ben Fritz (Athletics). Shortstop Mike Rouse (A's) led off with a single for Team USA, and one out later, after Grady Sizmore (Indians) reached on one of his two hits, Rouse came home on a single by Ernie Young (Tigers). The big hit of the inning was a two-out, bases-loaded single by right fielder J.J. Davis (Pirates).

Team USA added one in the second on a Chris Burke (Astros) sacrifice fly that scored catcher Koyie Hill (Dodgers), making the lead 4-1. After Mesa closed the deficit to 4-2, Team USA responded with a pair of runs in the ninth as Burke and Sizemore had RBI singles off Mike Johnston (Padres).

Davis, Sizemore and Young each had two hits apiece to lead Team USA. Sizemore is off to a 7-for-12 start (.583) and has scored a team-best five runs, while Young is 7-for-10 with five RBIs. Davis was back in action after sitting out a game after an allergic reaction to a bee sting.

Three of the Team USA pitchers threw more than one inning. Starter J.D. Durbin (Twins) pitched the first three frames, striking out four and allowing a first-inning run on a sacrifice fly. Reliever Royce Ring (Mets) replaced him and was credited with the win after pitching a scoreless fourth inning.

Mesa tried to rally over the last five innings, getting 11 baserunners with seven hits and four walks, but the Desert Dogs left 11 runners on base for the game, and Team USA turned one double play. Todd Williams (Devil Rays) pitched two scoreless innings after Ring, giving up three hits and two walks, and John Grabow (Pirates) and Derrick Turnbow (Angels) finished up, with Turnbow giving up a run in the eighth but hanging on to get the save.

Lefthander Jason Stanford (Indians), who relieved Adam Wainwright (Braves) in Team USA's first game last Saturday, gets the start this afternoon against the Peoria Saguaros. Team USA had hoped to use lefthander Horacio Ramirez (Braves) by now, but he's battling an upper respiratory problem.

MLB.com also is reporting that righthander Jeremy Fikac (A's), battling for a spot in the bullpen, has elbow tendonitis and has been shut down for at least a couple of days, jeopardizing his chances of making the team. Team USA currently has 31 players on its roster but will take a 24-man roster to the Olympic qualifier in Panama City, Panama, which begins Oct. 30.