Team USA lost the Miami region to Venezuela Wednesday night(10-6) but more importantly, the lost star 1b Kevin Youkilis(Boston Red Sox) for the remainder of the tournament due to an ankle problem. Game wise, the loss means nothing, the USA was in the semifinals in Los Angeles, starting this weekend. However, the health situation is not good and has started to effect the club on field, particularily defensively.
The team is already down a 2b(Red Sox Dustin Pedroia), DH(Atlanta Braves Chipper Jones) and late inning reliever(Florida Marlin Matt Lindstrom) due to various injuries. Milwaukee Brewers LF Ryan Braun hopes to play Sunday with his right rib cage injury & received a major injury scare in the Wednesday contest. NY Mets star 3b David Wright fouled a ball off his foot and cracked his toenail, which is very painful, He claims he will play.
The Youkilis injury forced poor Adam Dunn to play 1b and he had 2 huge errors that help lead to 4 unearned runs. The team lucked out when Brian Roberts(Baltimore Orioles) was able to fill in for Pedroia but with Derek Lee(Chicago Cubs) hurt in camp, the club does not have a strong alternative.(EDITORS NOTE HERE- WHY DOESN’T THE SAINTED CAPTAIN JETER CALL MARK TEIXEIRA IN FLA?) Mark DeRosa(Chicago Cubs) could play in pinch but he is best suited in a super sub role for Manager Davey Johnson.
DeRosa was the offensive star for the USA Wednesday, having a homer among his three hits as well as 3 rbi. Roberts, Derek Jeter(NY Yankees), Chris Iannetta(Arizona Diamondbacks) and Curtis Granderson(Detroit Tigers) all had 2 hits. The guys continued to battle even after a 3rd inning 6-1 deficit. The team advances to the semifinals with Venezuela, Japan and Korea, seedings to be determined after Thursday’s Korea-Japan contest.
United States lineup
1-2b Brian Roberts-Baltimore Orioles
2- DH Derek Jeter-NY Yankees
3- SS Jimmy Rollins-Philadelphia Phillies
4- 3b David Wright- NY Mets
5- 1b Adam Dunn-Washington Nationals
6-LF Mark DeRosa- Cleveland Indians
7-RF Shane Victorino=Philadelphia Phillies
8- C Chris Iannetta-Arizona Diamondbacks
9-CF Curtis Granderson-Detroit Tigers
