Posted on 03/15/2017 9:48:36 PM PDT by TBP
Mariners left-hander Drew Smyly started the United States' 4-2 victory against Venezuela on Wednesday night, and he was dominant. The 27-year-old struck out eight and walked none in 4 2/3 innings in the Pool F opener of the World Baseball Classic.
The last six outs Smyly recorded were strikeouts before he gave way to Rangers closer Sam Dyson. Smyly's final pitch, a fastball to strike out Carlos Gonzalez, was clocked at 94.4 mph. Smyly had never thrown a pitch that exceeded 93.96 mph (on April 24, 2015) in the Statcast™ era.
Smyly gave up one run, but it was unearned. He committed a throwing error to first base after fielding a Robinson Chirinos bunt in the third inning. That set up runners at second and third for Venezuela, and Ender Inciarte's sacrifice fly brought home Gonzalez for a 1-0 lead. Smyly's performance extended a United States streak of starting pitchers not allowing an earned run in WBC 2017 to 18 innings. The Rays' Chris Archer (four innings), Blue Jays' Marcus Stroman (4 2/3 innings) and Royals' Danny Duffy (4 2/3 innings) turned in strong performances for the U.S. during the first round. Smyly, who was added to the U.S. roster for Round 2 in place of Duffy, posted a 4.88 ERA in 30 starts for the Rays last season. In 19 starts for Tampa Bay prior to that, the left-hander's ERA was 2.52. The World Baseball Classic runs through March 22. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games in San Diego's Petco Park and the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.
It ended on a double play enabled by the shift. Leyland had put 3B Nolan Arenado in short RF, and Victor Martinez hit the ball right to him. He threw to SS Brandon Crawford (just into the game for defensive purposes), who threw to Hosmer for the game-ending DP.
We didn't have to use Jake McGee, Tyler Clippard, or Andrew Miller, so they're all fresh for Team USA's next game against Puerto Rico. (Why does PR have its own teams?)
Here’s something...http://www.si.com/olympics/2016/08/06/olympics-puerto-rico-united-states-ioc#
USA! USA!
Late-inning heroics from Adam Jones and Eric Hosmer vaulted the United States past Venezuela, 4-2, on Wednesday night at Petco Park in yet another World Baseball Classic thriller.
The U.S. bats were quiet throughout much of the night until Jones brought a much-needed spark with a game-tying leadoff homer in the eighth. Hosmer followed three batters later with a two-run blast that ultimately handed the U.S. a win in its second-round opener.
Venezuela now faces a must-win matchup with the Dominican Republic, which also lost its second-round opener, on Thursday night at 10 ET (live on MLB Network and MLB.TV). Team USA has Thursday off before resuming play Friday against Puerto Rico (10 p.m. ET, live on MLB Network and MLB.TV). The two 1-0 Pool F teams will compete for an inside track to the semifinals in Los Angeles.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Great 8th: Jones, whose walk-off single handed U.S. the victory in its tournament opener against Colombia on Friday, again played hero for Team USA, tying Wednesday’s game with a solo shot against Venezuelan reliever Hector Rondon in the eighth inning. Hosmer, MVP of the 2016 All-Star Game at Petco Park, found his San Diego stroke again with a two-run shot that proved to be the game-winner.
It drew smiles from the crowd.
See what happens when they take off the Mariners uniform? They become baseball players!
US leading Puerto Rico 4-0 in the final, top of the 7th!
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