Aussies victorious again, Team USA stumbles

Usa 2 at Italy 6

WP: D'Angelo (1-0) LP: Outman (0-1) SAVE:Maestri (1)
HR: USA: Ruggiano

In what was probably one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, Team Usa fell to the underdog Italians, 6-2.

Former Clearwater Thresher Josh Outman (Philadelphia) got off to a slow start, walking the first two batters he faced, but double play and a strike out kept Team Italy of the board in the first inning. It would be a different story in the second inning though as back-to-back singles put runners in the corners. When Leonardo Zileri knocked a grounder to short, it looked like an easy out, but Brian Bixler (Pittsbugh) booted the ball which went a runner of the plate for Team Italy. A pair of singles later, Italy would take a 3-0 lead.

Team USA came back in the top of the third with Justin Ruggiano (Tampa) hitting for his first home run of the tournament. Colby Rasmus (St. Louis) doubled, and Jayson Nix (Colorado) would be hit by a pitch to get on base. Adam LaRoche (Dodgers) then doubled to bring in Rasmus, but Team USA came up one run short and could not tie the game.

Bixler's second error of the game, combined with a bad pick off attempt by southpaw Jerry Blevins (Oakland) lead to 2 unearned runs when Steven Shell (LA Angels) gave up back to back hits to Maximilliano Di Blaise and Mario Chinini in relief. Italy would exit the inning with a 6-2 lead and the Americans could find no offense through the rest of the contest.

Outman would work 3 innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Shell pitched through 3.2 innings, allowing only 1 earned run on 2 hits while striking out 3.

Team USA takes on Team Japan on Saturday. In other group A action, South Africa defeated Spain, 7-4, Chinese Taipei took out Japan, 6-1, and Panama defeated Mexico 3-2.

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Venezuela 4 at Australia 7

WP: Wiltshire (1-0) LP: Artega (0-1)
HR: Aus: T. Brice

Team Australia continued to roll, taking a 7-4 win over Venezuela in Group B play. Former Miracle Josh Hill (Minnesota) took the start for the boys from down under, giving up 4 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 walks while striking out 4 in 3 innings worth of work. Glenn Williams (Minnesota) was 2-for-4 with a walk and Luke Hughes (Minnesota) was 1-for-2 with 3 RBIs.

Hill struggled with his fast ball, hitting Luis Alen with a pitch to start the 2nd inning then advancing him to 2nd on a wild pitch. After getting Saul Torres to strike out, Hill then walked Jean Centeno. Following a Jose Aponte fly out, Hill issued another walk, this time to Dirimo Chavez to load the bases. Liu Rodriguez drove a 2-1 pitch deep into right centerfield for a 3-run triple, then came home on Lino Connell's single for the 4-0 lead.

Back-to-back doubles by Brett Roneberg (Independant) and Tom Brice (Independant) got Team Australia on the board in the fourth. Williams hit a double start off the sixth then came home on a throwing error by Chavez to cut the Venezuelan lead in half. Brice's single-shot home run gave the Aussies another point.

Another former Thresher, Brad Harman (Philadelphia), hit a double to start off the 7th and then came in when Justin Huber (Kansas City) hit a double to tie up the game.

In the 11th inning, Roneberg lead off with a double. With one out, Mathew Kent (Independant) was intentionally walked. New Britain's Luke Hughes (Minnesota), who came into the game as a late inning defensive replacement, then crushed a 2-0 pitch over the left field bleachers to give the Aussies their second consectutive walk off win.

Trent Oeltjen (Minnesota) continued his offensive onslaught, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk, but he did not figure into any of the scoring.

Former Miracle Tristan Crawford (Minnesota) pitched part of the 8th inning for the Aussies, walking Jose Labraton.

In other Group B play, Team Korea took a 18-2 mercy rule win over Thailand, Cuba defeated Team Canada 6-3, and Team Netherlands fell Team Germany 15-5.

Tom Stuifbergen's brother Nick pitched 2 innings for the Netherlands, giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits and 1 walk while striking out 2.

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Macri helps Dogs defeat Solar Sox

Mesa 5 at Phoenix 6 (10 innings)

W: B. McCrory (2-1, 1.64); L: C. Reineke (0-2, 4.26)
HR: PDD: N. Reimold (5).

The Mesa Solar Sox blew a 4 run lead, allowing the Phoenix Desert Dogs to get back into the game, tie the contest up in the 9th and win it extra innings.

With 1 out in the 9th, Nyjer Morgan (Pittsburgh) doubled, then crossed the plate on a Nolan Reimold (Baltimore) single to even the score. Reimold would make it to 3rd, but was left stranded when Jeff Baisley (Oakland) ground into a double play.

Matt Macri (Minnesota) doubled off Chad Reineke (Houston) in the 10th, moved to 3rd on a Chris Getz (Chicago White Sox) gound out and crossed the plate for the game winner when Reineke unleashed a wild pitch.

The Solar Sox had taken control of the game early, when Matt LaPorta (Milwaukee) doubled in the top of the 2nd, then scored on a Mitch Einertson (Houston) single.

With 2 outs in the 3rd, Joe Simokaitis (Chicago Cubs) doubled and Jed Lowrie (Boston) walked. The pair would come home on LaPorta's second double of the game, both coming off Phoenix starter Hayden Penn (Baltimore).

Penn would be replaced by James Simmons (Oakland) in the 5th, who allowed a double to Adam Heether (Milwaukee), who then moved to 3rd on Sam Fuld's (Chicago Cubs) single. Simokaitis ground into a double play, but Heether crossed the plate, giving the Solar Sox a 4-0 lead.

The Dogs would start their comeback in the bottom of the inning when Cliff Pennington (Oakland) doubled, then stole 3rd base. Reimold would go yard over the left center field wall to cut Mesa's lead in half.

In the bottom of the sixth, Macri would draw a walk with 1 out. Getz double plated him, making it 4-3 Mesa.

But the Sox found themselves some breathing room in the top of the 7th, when Heether singled and advanced to 2nd on a throwing error by Reimold. Fuld singled him in with a ground ball to left. He'd advance to 3rd on Donny Lucy's (Chicago White Sox) throwing error, but was left stranded with Simokaitis ground out.

Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) hit a ground-rule double in bottom of the 8th, then crossed the plate on Macri's fly ball single to cut the Sox lead to one, setting the stage for the 9th and 10th inning heroics.

Macri, the only Minnesota prospect in the game, was 2-for-3 with 2 runs, 2 walks, a double and an RBI.

The Brewers LaPorta split last season between the Pioneer and Sally Leagues. The former Gator outfielder from Gaineville, Floria, will likely start next season with Brevard County of the Florida State League. While he's likely a shoe in for the FSL top prospect set, I'd imagine he won't stay in Melbourne long enough to be there when Spacecoast Stadium hosts the FSL All-Star game.

The Desert Dogs finish off their week at home Saturday against the Peoria Saguaros for a 12:35 MST game.

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So Long Sarasota

A $16 million bond referendum to help fund a $45 million plan to rebuild Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota failed Tuesday's vote by a narrow margin. With goes any long term plans for the Cincinnati Reds to continue on in Sarasota.

The Reds hold a lease on the Stadium through the 2008 season, and have signed a year-to-year deal to extend it three more years while they search for a new home.

The Cleveland Indians recently agreed to leave Orlando for Goodyear, Arizona. That is one of the cities in line for the Reds as well, as it tries to lock up the monopoly on Ohio Spring Training fans.

Lee County, Orlando and Vero Beach have also been tossed around as possible new homes for the Reds.

Vero Beach is currently housing the Tampa Devil Rays FSL affiliate, but plans appear to be in place to move the team to Charlotte County once the renovations on the Charlotte County stadium are completed.

The Reds had received a promise of $15 mil from the state if they could receive matching funds from locally, but with defeat of the referendum that deal becomes void. It's possible however that the State will agree to match funds for a diffrent location in the state of Florida.

Locations in Bonita Springs and Cape Coral have both been talked about previously as potential locations for a new spring training facility. However as of Thursday, Jeff Maultsby, director of Florida operations for the Reds, has said nothing has been done in terms of a search for a new home.

"We'll get moving here in the next couple days," Maultsby was quoted as saying in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

"It's like a blank canvas, which is kind of exciting," said John Allen, the Reds' executive vice president and chief operating officer, in the same publication. "We can look at a lot of different options."

The fate of Ed Smith Stadium is also up in the air. While the city will save money on the stadium operations, they will not be able to make up the revenue they receive from the Reds being in town. The void in the budget is estimated to be as high as $1.3 million per year.

The Herald Tribune noted that the city gets about $20 mil from a Reds Spring training game, with multiple dates available, vs. $7,000 from the Sarasota Blues Festival, an annual activity.

Phoenix error gives Solar Sox 5-3 win

Phoenix 3 at Mesa 5

W: L. Holdzkom (1-0, 6.23); L: J. Chavez (1-2, 6.55); SV: J. Motte (1)
HR: PDD: C. Pennington (1). MSS: M. LaPorta (5).

The Mesa Solar Sox took 3 runs off Jesse Chavez (Pittsburgh) to overcome the Phoenix Desert Dogs in route to a 5-3 victory at Mesa HoHoKam Park. The game winning run was unearned, as Chicago Cubs' farmhand Josh Lansford reached on a fielding error by Phoenix shortstop Blake Davis (Baltimore).

Nyjer Morgan (Pittsburgh) greeted Mesa starter Steve Hammond (Milwaukee) with a single before Cliff Pennington (Oakland) blasted a ball over the left field wall to give the Dogs a 2 run lead. Ryan Sweeney (Chicago White Sox) would be called out on strikes before Jeff Baisley (Oakland) doubled. Matt Macri's (Minnesota) fly ball single to center field would plate Baisley after Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh) lined out. Trevor Plouffe (Minnesota) would ground out to end the inning.

Sam Fuld (Chicago Cubs) started off the bottom of the inning by hitting a double off former Miracle Ryan Mullins (Minnesota). Following a pair of ground outs, Matt LaPorta (Milwaukee) hit a home run to cut the Dog's lead to 1.

The game would stay that way with Hammond working 4 innings, allowing the 3 first inning runs off 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. Mullins would work 4 innings as well, allowing the 2 runs on 4 hits and 1 walk while striking out 3.

Jake Arrieta (Baltimore) and Eddie Morlan (Minnesota) would each work a scoreless inning for the Dogs before Chevez got onto the mound.

Mitch Einertson (Houston) singled to start out, and was followed by a Lou Palimisano (Milwaukee) fly out. Langford then reached on Davis' error which moved Einertson to 3rd to Lansford to 2nd. Amaury Marti (St Louis) plated Einertson to tie the game, and a Tommy Manzella (Houston) single brought Lansford home for the game winning run. Fuld singled to load the bases and then Chavez walked Jarrett Hoffpauir (St Louis) to force Marti over the plate, giving Mesa an insurance marker.

The Dogs only got 2 hits off the Solar Sox relief team of Dave Johnson (Milwaukee), Lincoln Holdzkom (Boston), Josh Muecke (Houston) and Jason Mott (St. Louis).

Morlan allowed 1 hit and struck out 1 during his inning on the mound. Macri would finish up 2-for-4 at the plate with 1 RBI, Plouffe would be 0-for-1 being replaced by Davis in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Catcher Drew Butera (Minnesota) was 0-for-3 batting at the bottom of the order.

The two teams rematch at Phoenix Municipal Stadium on Friday at 12:35 PM, MST. Mesa now trails the Dogs by 3 games in the AFL East Division standings. The Dogs host the Peoria Saguaros on Saturday for a 12:35 game before taking Sunday off.

The Saguaros defeated Scottsdale 9-1 Thursday with former Clearwater Thresher Greg Golson (Philadelphia) going yard for Peoria. Philadelphia's Pat Overholt picked up the win, allowing 2 hits and striking out 3 in 4 innings.

Surprise continued their dominance in the West Division, defeating the Peoria Javelinas 5-2. Chris Lubanski (Kansas City) hit a blast off Colorado's Sean Thompson for the Rafters. Matt Harrison (Texas) allowed 1 hit and 2 walks while striking out 5 in four innings for his fifth win of the season.

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Tigres fall to Navegantes, 3-2

Magallanes 3 at Aragua 2

W: J. Pulido (2-0, 1.10); L: C. Bailey (1-4, 4.18); SV: I. Maldonado (4)
HR: MAG: L. Scott (3).

Los Tigres de Aragua could not hold an early lead against los Navegantes del Magailanes, falling 3-2 on Friday in Venezuelan Winter League play.

Ronny Cedeno (Chicago Cubs) singled in the first, moved to 2nd on a Luis Maza (LA Dodgers) ground out, then came home on a Hector Gimenez (Houston) single to put the Cats on the board.

Aragua starter Cory Bailey (Chicago Cubs) surrendered back-to-back singles to Richard Paz (F/A) and Marcos Vechionacci (NY Yankees), which hurt when Luke Scott (Houston) doubled the pair in, to make it 2-1 Navegantes.

Scott homered in the 8th off former Miracle Jose Mijares (Minnesota) for the insurance point, which Magailanes would need.

Alex Romero (Arizona) would make to 3rd base with 1 out in the 8th, but was left stranded when Maza and Gimenez were called out one strikes.

Mike Aviles (Kansas City) singled to start off the ninth, then moved to second when Ivan Maldanado (F/A) unleashed a wild pitch. Raul Chavez (NY Yankees) would fly out, but Jesus Feliciano (NY Mets) doubled Aviles in. Unfortuantely, the two Romeros - Willie, a Free Agent, and Alex - flew out and poped out stranding Feliciano and ending the game with the Cats at a deficit.

Aragua trails Caribes by 5 games in the standings, they will host the Caribes on Saturday at 5:30 PM AST, before attempting to get revenge on Magallanes on Sunday for a 5:30 PM game to finish up the Week Feline.

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Tigres

I was sort of chuckling at the Mirale baseball site today, the poll of which reads "Now that Baseball's done until mid-February...how do kill time in the off-season?" Given that I'm writing 2 to 3 game reports a day, I guess I wasn't sure that baseball had ended, and the last I checked, I'm good until at least the end of the December, although we do slow down after the Arizona Fall League and IBaF World Cup finish up this month.

Granted, following the few prospects we've got in the Venezuelan Winter League seems a bit of stretch at times, it is sort of nice to see how some of our old Miracle players are fairing. And it sort of beats jumping every trade rumor - most of which are shot down before they even get started - that the other Twins bloggers are spending time on.

As Dirty says "Well, it keeps you busy." Not that De San needs to worry about what I'm keeping myself busy with. Speaking of which Allen, why aren't you busy in Chinese Taipei? I thought you were the very best catcher in the whole wide world?