USA World Cup Team Improves to 2-0

Complete Coverage of USA Baseball World Cup Team

By John Manuel
October 15, 2003

USA Baseball's team of indy leaguers improved to 2-0 at the 35th World Cup in Cuba yesterday, defeating Brazil 7-1.

Righthander Hank Woodman (Schaumburg Flyers) gave Team USA another dominant starting effort, striking out 10 without allowing a walk in seven scoreless innings. The former Rangers and Twins farmhand allowed one of Brazil's two hits, and the Brazilians scored their only run in the ninth on a solo home run by Tiago de Campos.

By that time, Team USA had a generous cushion, having scored its seven runs with the help of Brazil's porous defense. Both teams made four errors, but the Americans were able to take advantage with 10 hits. Four of their runs were unearned, and Team USA had just three RBIs.

Left fielder Brent Sachs (Winnipeg Goldeyes) and third baseman Josh Patton (Lincoln Salt Dogs) were two of four American players with two hits apiece, and they had the team's RBIs, with Sachs driving in two. Shortstop Robbie Kison and second baseman Bryan Ward (Fargo-Moorhead) also had two hits.

Team USA improved to 2-0 and is one of five undefeated teams in the 15-team event. The U.S. is tied atop group B with Panama and Japan, while host Cuba and Canada lead Group A at 2-0.

Canada defeated Russia 10-0 in a seven-inning run-rule game Tuesday, as starter Jordy Alexander (Quebec Capitales) struck out six in five innings and Canada rapped 11 hits. A pair of Winnipeg Goldeyes, third baseman Patrick Scalabrini and first baseman Greg Morrison, and former big leaguers Rob Butler all homered.

Cuba cruised past Korea 4-0 behind Vicyohandri Odelin, the young lefthander who beat Team USA in the gold-medal game of the 2001 World Cup in Taiwan. Odelin struck out six and gave up five hits in six innings and got relief help from Yadel Marti and Pedro Luis Lazo. Korea's Jeung-Min Cha limited Cuba's offense to just five hits and two walks, but also still gave up four runs in a complete game.

In other games, the Netherlands beat China 12-5 despite a pair of homers by Chinese shortstop Weifeng Qu; Panama beat Mexico 7-3 as ex-big leaguers Rafael Medina (who started and got the win) and Olmedo Saenz (two hits) contributed; Japan blanked France 18-0; and Nicaragua beat Taiwan 5-2, as former Tigers farmhand Jairo Pineda tossed four perfect innings of relief and veteran third baseman Jenry Roa had two RBIs.