Sept. 14, 2009

Smoak Homers Twice as Team USA Wins 11-1

Justin Smoak (left) had two of his team’s four home runs as Team USA defeated Netherlands Antilles 11-1 in the second round of the 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup at Stadio Gavignan in Verona, Italy.

Smoak had a two-run blast to cap a four-run fifth as the U.S. took a 5-0 lead. He added a three-run shot in a six-run seventh. Smoak has five home runs in five World Cup contests.

Lucas May went deep in the third and Jon Weber homered to start the fifth-inning rally for Team USA (2-0, 4-1). May and Weber each went 3 for 4 with two runs.

Kasey Kiker struck out seven in four innings for the U.S. with one hit and one earned run. Lucas Harrell (1-0) surrendered one hit in three innings with two strikeouts to earn the victory against Netherlands Antilles (0-2, 2-3) in a game called after seven innings due to the 10-run rule.

Team USA will meet Japan on Tuesday at Stadio Comunale in Macerata, Italy. Brad Lincoln is the expected starter for the U.S.

9/13/09: Team USA Opens Round 2 with Shutout of Canada

9/12/09: Team USA Blanks China to Advance to Round 2

9/11/09: Redmond, Team USA Shut Down Germany

9/10/09: Team USA Falls to Venezuela in 11 Innings

Official Website of 2009 Baseball World Cup

(photo by BrianFlemingPhotography.com)