Sept. 27, 2009

Team USA Claims 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup

Lucas May had a three-run homer in the second and Team USA added six in the seventh in a 10-5 victory over Cuba to win the 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup in front of 5,008 fans at Stadio Borghese in Nettuno, Italy.

Team USA (14-1) won 14 straight games after dropping its opener and claimed its fourth World Cup (1973, 1974, 2007, 2009).

May’s blast snapped a scoreless tie. The game was knotted 4-4 before the U.S. put up six in the top of the seventh to take a 10-4 lead. Justin Smoak (left), Jon Weber, Terry Tiffee, Josh Kroeger and May each had two-out RBI singles in the frame.

Brad Lincoln (3-0) allowed three runs with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief to earn the victory.

Alfredo Despaigne went 3 for 5 with a homer and two runs for Cuba (12-3).

Smoak had nine home runs and 22 RBI to be named MVP of the tournament. Tiffee and Weber joined Smoak on the All-Tournament Team.

9/23/09: Redmond Hurls Team USA into Gold Medal Game

9/22/09: Alvarez Homers as Team USA Tops Venezuela 6-3

9/21/09: Plouffe Pops Game-Winning Home Run in Team USA Win

9/17/09: Alvarez Hits Three Homers in 13-4 Team USA Win

9/15/09: Smoak Homers Again as Team USA Tops Japan 4-2

9/14/09: Smoak Homers Twice as Team USA Wins 11-1

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)