Team USA Flashes Power In 10-3 Victory

Complete Coverage of USA Baseball

By Will Kimmey
October 21, 2003

Team USA powered its way to victory Monday in the Arizona Fall League. Third baseman Justin Leone (Mariners) hit a pair of home runs, and outfielder Gabe Gross (Blue Jays) added a three-run shot as each drove in four runs in a 10-3 victory against the Mesa Desert Dogs.

Leone gave Team USA a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when he belted a solo homer to left field off Mesa starter Josh Hancock (Phillies). Team USA then blew it wide open by adding five more runs in the fourth. After run-scoring singles by Gross and catcher Joe Mauer (Twins), Leone connected for his second homer of the game--a three-run shot--off Mesa reliever Greg Kubes (Phillies). Leone also added a double as he went 3-for-4.

Righthander J.D. Durbin (Twins) came on to start the sixth and gave up three hits in the inning, as Mesa sliced the Team USA lead to 6-3. But Gross increased the Team USA margin to 9-3 by launching a three-run homer in the seventh off Desert Dogs reliever Bryan Hebson (Red Sox). Gross finished the day 3-for-3.

Durbin (1-0) earned the win by going three innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while fanning three. Righthander Jesse Crain (Twins) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to finish the contest.

Lefthander Jason Stanford (Indians) got the start for Team USA and worked 4 2/3 innings, limiting the Desert Dogs to one run on four hits while fanning four. Righthander John Grabow (Pirates) followed Stanford and recorded the final out of the fifth, but not before allowing a double by Jeremy Owens (Red Sox) that brought home Mesa's first run.

With the win, Team USA improved 7-2. It has three games left in the AFL, followed by a pair of exhibitions with team Canada before manager Frank Robinson and his coaching staff have to whittle the 30-player roster to 24 for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Panama beginning Oct. 30. The official 24-man roster will be announced at the end of the trials on Oct. 28.

Righthander Adam Wainwright (Braves) was originally scheduled to start Monday, but was pushed back a day because Tuesday's scheduled starter, righthander Justin Duchscherer (Athletics), came down a touch of the flu. Duchscherer will be given an extra day of rest, and will start Wednesday against the Peoria Javelinas.

Wainwright (1-1, 9.00) and Team USA face Rangers righthander Justin Echols (0-1, 11.00) and the Peoria Saguaros on Tuesday afternoon.