2007 Baseball World Cup

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The 2007 Baseball World Cup was held in Taiwan in November of 2007. It was the 37th Baseball World Cup. The Cuban national team was foiled in its bid for a 10th straight Cup in which it competed as Team USA won for the third time ever. It was USA's first win in a Cup in which Cuba played.

Contents

[edit] Competitiors (with records in past Cups)

[edit] Round-Robin Phase

[edit] November 6

The only game slated for November 6 was rained-out as the tourney opener between Taiwan and Italy could not be played due to inclement weather.

[edit] November 7

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2
Panama 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 1 - 5 9 2
Win: Gomez (1-0) Loss: Leal (0-1)

Spain stayed in the game until the sixth, when Angel Chavez singled in a run. Joel Vega tacked on a 3-run insurance homer to put it out of reach, while the underdogs never got their offense going.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Africa 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 3
Japan 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 3 - 11 15 0
Win: Settsu (1-0) Loss: Ekermans (0-1)

South Africa at least avoided the mercy rule and even held the lead for an inning and a half before falling as expected to Japan.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
USA 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 - 3 7 0
Win: Karstens (1-0) Loss: Rodriguez (0-1) Save: Booker (1)

Jeff Karstens threw six scoreless frames and Lee Gronkiewicz, Neal Musser and Chris Booker completed the shutout. The US got all of its offense with two outs in the fifth. RF Justin Ruggiano was hit by a pitch. C Jason Jaramillo singled, the first hit the US had gotten. SS Brian Bixler walked. A wild pitch by Hector Rodriguez score Ruggiano. Colby Rasmus walked and 2B Jayson Nix singled home Jaramillo and Bixler.

3B Efren Espinoza led the Mexican attack by going 2 for 4 with a stolen base.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Australia 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 8 1
Cuba 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 7 2
Win: Lazo (1-0) Loss: Rich Thompson (0-1)

The Green and Gold almost stunned the perennial champions in this game. Australia almost scored against Elier Sanchez in the second but Brett Roneberg was thrown out at home. In the bottom of the inning, Alexander Mayeta scored on a sacrifice fly by Yoandry Urgellés for the lone run allowed by Greg Wiltshire in 5 2/3 innings. The tally had been set up by a botched double play by the Aussies.

2B Luke Hughes opened the third with a single and CF Trent Oeltjen singled as well. RF Ben Risinger laid down a sacrifice bunt and LF Justin Huber hit a sacrifice fly to tie the score.

SS Brad Harman led off the 7th with a double against Jonder Martinez, then took third on a bunt by C Andrew Graham. Oeltjen then singled home Harman.

Harman continued his stardom with three defensive gems, one of which led reliever Adrian Burnside to comment that "he must have some Venezuelan in him…That’s the best play I have ever seen".

Adam Bright, Tristan Crawford and Brendan Wise kept Cuba scoreless until the bottom of the 9th. With one out, Brad Thomas became the fifth pitcher for the Green and Gold. He retired Mayeta on a ground ball and got two strikes and a ball on LF Frederich Cepeda. Cuba's international tournament record of clutch hits came to life then, as Cepeda took a 93-mph fastball and slugged a homer to left to tie the score.

Australia got two on in the top of the 10th but reliever Pedro Luis Lazo stepped in and struck out pinch-hitter Thomas Brice. Lazo extended his Baseball World Cup record (post-1980) for wins with #8 of his career when DH Osmani Urrutia hit a walk-off homer off major leaguer Rich Thompson.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4
Netherlands 0 0 0 4 2 10 - 16 14 1
Win: Berkenbosch (1-0) Loss: Heebthong (0-1)

In a major mismatch, the Dutch team buried Thailand, which had more errors than hits. Kenny Berkenbosch pitched six innings of two-hit scoreless ball. Berry van Driel finished up the game, while the Dutch bats roasted the Thai pitching. 1B Vince Rooi (3 for 4, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 4 RBI), RF Dirk van 't Klooster (2 for 2, 2 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI) and DH Sharnol Adriana (2 for 3, BB, HBP, 3 R).

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
South Korea 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 X 5 9 0
Win: Chang (1-0) Loss: Avery (0-1)

Kevin Nicholson and Jimmy Van Ostrand have one hit each and that's all Canada can get as South Korea's pitching shuts them down.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 2 3 8 16 1
Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
Win: Torres (1-0) Loss: Márquez (0-1)

German ace Enorbel Márquez turned in a strong effortr, holding Venezuela to one run in six innings, striking out seven, but the bullpen was far less effective as Venezuela pounded away for 7 runs in three innings against four relievers, including Rodney Gessmann. Luis Torres, on the other hand, mowed down the German offense.

[edit] November 8

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
USA 1 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 - 7 10 0
Win: Wright (1-0) Loss: Pinto (0-1)

3B Andy LaRoche (3 for 4, 2 2B, 4 RBI) and DH Evan Longoria (2 for 3, 2 RBI, 1 HR) led the US attack in another easy win. Four US hurlers combined to throw the team's second straight shutout, led by Matt Wright (3 hits allowed in six innings). All of Panama's hits came from SS Angel Chavez and 1B Sherman Obando, each of whom had a couple.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Spain 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 1
Italy 6 1 0 3 1 0 - 11 13 0
Win: Fiore (1-0) Loss: Hernandez (0-1)

Italy put this one away early against Yoel Hernandez. SS Jack Santora reached on a bunt hit to open the bottom of the first and scored on a double by 2B Davide Dallospedale. Maximiliano De Biase singled and then Mario Chiarini cracked a 3-run homer to put this one away. Di Biase finished 3 for 4 with a homer and Chiarini added another double before all was done. Tony Fiore allowed one run in five innings for the win. Hernandez, on the other hand, gave up 10 runs in 4 innings.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Canada 3 0 6 0 2 2 5 18 16 3
Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Win: Lockwood (1-0) Loss: Thongbai (0-1)

After two hits in their first game, Team Canada rapped 16 in routing the overmatched Thai team (now outscored 34-0 after two games). Emerson Frostad hit two homers (including a grand slam) and drove in seven while Jimmy Van Ostrand was 3 for 5 with 4 RBI. Mike Saunders and Matt Rogelstad homered.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cuba 4 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 7 14 0
Germany 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4 1
Win: Banos (1-0) Loss: Henkenjohann (0-1) Save: Sánchez (1)

Germany played a surprisingly close game against Cuba. In the first, RF Yoandry Urgellés smacked a 3-run homer as part of a 4-run inning for the favorites. Germany rallied in the bottom of the frame when LF Simon Gühring singled in CF Sascha Lutz. C Kai Gronauer followed with a 2-run homer to close it to 4-3 but Vladimir Banos settled down and allowed no more runs. Cuba tacked on insurance, with RBI triples from LF Frederich Cepeda and Urgellés.

Urgellés was 2 for 3 with a walk and 4 RBI while 1B Alexander Mayeta went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI as Cuba headed off the unlikely challenge.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Taiwan 5 0 0 0 2 1 8 16 17 1
South Africa 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 3
Win: Lin (1-0) Loss: Verschuren (0-1)


Taiwan homered twice in the first as the home country cruised to an easy win in their opener. 3B Tai-Shan Chang went 4 for 4 with 2 RBI, while Chin-Feng Chen and Chia-Hsien Hsieh drove in three apiece, each homering. SS Brett Willemburg had two of South Africa's five hits and drove in their only run. Ying-Chieh Lin whiffed 10 in six innings for the win.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Mexico 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 11 1
Japan 3 7 1 3 0 1 0 15 16 1
Win: Saito (1-0) Loss: Delgadillo (0-1)

Seven Japanese players scored with two outs in the second to run away with this game. LF Takashi Yoshiura was triple shy of the cycle and was 4 for 4 with a walk. Takashi Saito had help from Mexican baserunning blunders with three runners thrown out on the bases in the first two innings to pick up the win. Juan Delgadillo surrendered 7 runs in 1 2/3 IP for the loss.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 4 12 0
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
Win: Lee (1-0) Loss: Yepes (0-1)

South Korea followed the US with back-to-back shutouts as they rolled to a 2-0 start. Joo-chan Kim and Seung-hwa Lee homered for the South Koreans.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 3 9 2
Australia 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 4 7 1
Win: Thomas (1-0) Loss: van Kampen (0-1)

For the second straight game, Australia was involved in a dramatic one-run contest.

CF Trent Oeltjen opened the contest with a triple to left that was misplayed by Greg Halman. 3B Glenn Williams doubled home Oeltjen to put the Aussies ahead 1-0 in the first. Oeltjen again gave Leon Boyd trouble in the 5th when he singled and scored on a double by DH Ben Risinger.

In the sixth, the Orange staged a comeback. RF Dirk van 't Klooster reached on an infield hit off of Travis Blackley. 2B Michael Duursma grounded to third but Williams couldn't handle it and was charged with an error. CF Roger Bernadina bunted both runners over. SS Hainley Statia (fresh off a .288 season in high-A ball) singled through the middle, scoring van 't Klooster and Duursma. 3B Raily Legito singled and Brendan Wise relieved the tiring Blackley at that point.

Halman's defense again proved faulty in the bottom of the 6th, as his two-base error put RF Tom Brice aboard, but Brice failed to score.

Legito singled to center to start the 9th inning and took second on a wild pitch from Wise. Cleanup hitter Sharnol Adriana lined out to Williams. Brad Thomas then relieved Wise. C Sidney de Jong, playing his 100th game for the Dutch national team, singled Legito to third. 1B Vince Rooi then singled into center to score Legito and give the Dutch the lead.

Australia, after blowing it in the 9th last game, came back in the 9th this time. Michiel van Kampen came in to close it up. SS Brad Harman greeted him with a single, though. PH Gavin Fingleson grounded to second, but Mike Duursma (trying for a double play) threw the ball away for an error. 2B Luke Hughes hit a sacrifice fly to score Harman on a controversial play as some said Harman had left third too soon; umpire Mark Ditsworth said Harman had not left early. Oeltjen concluded his fine game with a double to right-center to score Fingleson with the winner. Oeltjen had reached base four times in five trips to the plate and had finished a homer shy of the cycle. He had been involved in all but one of Australia's four runs.

[edit] November 9

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
USA 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 3
Italy 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 - 6 7 0
Win: Cillo (1-0) Loss: Outman (0-1)

Italy beat Team USA for the first time in 21 years and it was the first time the Italian national team had ever beaten an American team with professional players. With two outs in the bottom of the second, CF Laidel Chapellí and C Luis Ricardo Serafin De Camargo singled, then LF Leonardo Zileri got Italy's offense started when he reached on an error by US shortstop Brian Bixler in the bottom of the second. SS Jack Santora and 2B Davide Dallospedale each singled in a run to make it 3-0. The US came back when Justin Ruggiano cracked a solo homer in the third and Adam LaRoche drove in Colby Rasmus with another. With men on second and third that inning, Santora made a nice play to rob Delwyn Young. Italy tacked on three more in the 4th with an error by Jerry Blevins helping set up two more unearned runs. Alessandro Maestri closed it out for Italy, walking the bases loaded before he fanned Jayson Nix to end the game. Ruggiano was 2 for 2 and reached base four times for the US, while Mario Chiarini (2 for 3, 2B, RBI) paced the Italian attack.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 9 2
Spain 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 2 - 7 10 0
Win: Olivera (1-0) Loss: Michaels (0-1)

Manny Olivera fanned 7 and allowed 2 hits in six shutout innings to give Spain its first win of the tournament. C Dewis Navarro went 2 for 2 with a triple while 3B Marc Carrillo was 3 for 4 with two doubles and 3 RBI for Spain. South Africa was led by 1B Gregory Libenberg (3 for 4, 2 RBI) as they fell to 0-3, giving Spain a slight challenge.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Thailand 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 5 1
South Korea 2 0 1 2 9 4 - 18 16 0
Win: Jeong (1-0) Loss: Kanjanvisut (0-1)

South Korea, like the US, had their pitching scoreless inning streak snapped - unlike the US, they made it to 3-0. Thailand, on the other hand, finally scored their first World Cup runs. SS Si-hyun Son (3 for 4, 4 RBI, HR) and DH Jae-woong Yoo (3 for 4, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) led the South Korean offense.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Venezuela 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 2
Australia 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 7 13 0
Win: Wiltshire (1-0) Loss: Arteaga (0-1)

Australia played its third straight game deciding in extra innings or the bottom of the 9th as they retained the top dramatic touch of the tournament.

Venezuela got going in the second when Josh Hill walked two batters and hit one. 2B Liu Rodriguez then tripled to right center to stake Venezuela to a 3-0 lead. 1B Lino Connell singled home Rodriguez for a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the 4th, 1B Brett Roneberg doubled with one out, then came home on a single by DH Tom Brice. In the sixth, 3B Glenn Williams doubled. Jackson Paz relieved and allowed a single to RF Ben Risinger. Roneberg grounded to SS Dirimo Chavez, who retired Risinger but whose throwing error let Williams score. Roneberg was caught stealing. Brice then homered to right-center to close the game to 4-3.

SS Brad Harman and LF Justin Huber pounded back-to-back doubles in the seventh to it.

In the 9th, Adam Bright plunked Rodriguez and Connell walked. Rich Thompson relieved and threw a wild pitch to put both runners in scoring position but Thompson fanned the next two batters to force extra innings.

In the 11th, Rodriguez doubled and Manuel Ramirez singled off of Greg Wiltshire but Venezuela failed to score. In the bottom of the 11th, Roneberg doubled to center and was bunted over by Brice. C Matthew Kent walked. 2B Luke Hughes, the #9 hitter, then worked the count to 2-0 before smashing a drive over the left field well for a game-winning 3-run homer.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mexico 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 2
Panama 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 - 3 7 0
Win: Atencio (1-0) Loss: Kamar (0-1) Save: Gomez (1)

Mexico jumped ahead early when LF Lorenzo Buelna homered with one out and CF Sergio Contreras aboard in the first. They would not score again. Panama closed it to one on a third-inning RBI single from 1B Audes de Leon. In the 6th, DH Sherman Obando doubled in two to give the Panamaians the win as the bullpen held on.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canada 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 11 1
Cuba 0 0 1 0 1 0 4 0 - 6 14 0
Win: Gonzalez (1-0) Loss: S. Richmond (0-1) Save: Lazo (1)

2007 first-round pick Philippe Aumont got the tough call against the Cubans but pitched two shutout innings, allowing two hits, before exiting. Aumont said “It was a big thing for me to get the start against Cuba, knowing how good these guys are it give a big boost in confidence.” Scott Richmond relieved but allowed a run in his first inning of work. In the 4th, veteran LF Jeremy Ware singled and scored on a double by C Chris Robinson off of a shaky Adiel Palma (6 hits in 3 2/3 IP). Robinson tried to score on a single by CF Sébastien Boucher but was thrown out at home by LF Frederich Cepeda.

In the bottom of the fifth, 3B Yulieski Gourriel smacked a solo shot off of Richmond to put Cuba again, 2-1. Cuba tacked on four insurance runs in the 7th with Gourriel driving in one and scoring another in that frame. One of the runs was controversial as Cepeda was called safe at home on a close play.

SS Kevin Nicholson doubled in two runs in the 9th but World Cup legend Pedro Luis Lazo came on to shut down Canada and notch the save.

Cepeda (3 for 4, 3B, R, RBI) and Gourriel (2 for 5, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI) led the Cuban offense while Nicholson (4 for 4, R, 2 RBI, 3 doubles) helped keep the Canadians in it.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Japan 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 7 0
Taiwan 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 0 - 6 13 0
Win: Yang (1-0) Loss: Tazawa (0-1)

Taiwan cruised past Japan to tie Italy for first place in Pool A. 3B Tai-Shan Chang was 3 for 4 with a double while Chien-Fu Yang allowed only one run in six innings against an offense that had rolled through its first two contests.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Germany 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 5 9 1
Netherlands 5 3 2 0 0 0 4 1 15 20 0
Win: Markwell (1-0) Loss: Hughes (0-1)

The Dutch team had its second rout of the tourney, defeating Germany much more soundly than in their 2007 European Championship match-up. Germany had its first lead in World Cup history, though. 2B Jendrick Speer doubled with one out in the first and one out later, LF Simon Gühring (who had played in the Milwaukee Brewers farm system for two years) singled him home. C Kai Gronauer drew one of five walks Diegomar Markwell would issue and DH Markus Gienger had an infield single off the glove of SS Hainley Statia. 1B Michael Franke flew out to end the inning though.

The Netherlands bounced back quickly. CF Roger Bernadina opened with a walk and Statia singled. 3B Raily Legito chopped into a double play. DH Sharnol Adriana singled home Bernadina to tie the score. 1B Vince Rooi singled and then RF Dirk van 't Klooster cracked a 3-run homer. Though van 't Klooster led the Dutch national team with over 165 career games, it was just his second homer for the Orange (the other had come during the 2000 Olympics). C Tjerk Smeets then followed with a homer to left for a 5-1 lead.

Germany came back when Markwell walked four in a row in the second and Gühring added a sacrifice fly. The Dutch tacked on three more in the bottom of the inning, though, for a 8-3 lead to put it out of reach. German starter Andre Hughes allowed 8 runs on 8 hits in 1 2/3 IP.

For the first time, the mercy rule had to be used against Germany, but they had avoided any 7-inning losses that were so common for the weakest entries in each World Cup.

van 't Klooster (3 for 5, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2B, HR), Adriana (3 for 4, R, 3 RBI), Smeets (3 for 5, 2 R, RBI, HR) and 2B Roel Koolen (3 for 5, 2 R, RBI) were among the Dutch leaders. It was clearly a shaky outing for 2005 Baseball World Cup star Markwell, with 7 hits, 5 walks and 4 runs allowed in 5 1/3 innings against a team not noted for its offensive talent.

Germany was the only European team to lose on the 9th.

[edit] November 10

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Taiwan 3 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 8 8 0
Spain 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 12 1
Win: Liao (1-0) Loss: Granados (0-1)

DH Chin-Feng Chen went 3 for 5 with a double, homer and 3 RBI while 3B Tai-Shan Chang (AKA Tarzan) homered and drove in two. The win helped the host country remain the lone unbeaten team in their Pool by day's end, coupled with Italy's loss to Panama.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
South Africa 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 11 1
Mexico 0 5 0 0 1 4 0 3 13 12 0
Win: Cardenas (1-0) Loss: Elario (0-1)

Mexico cruised to its first win of the tournament. CF Sergio Contreras was 4 for 5 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 runs and 5 RBI to pace the offense, while 3B Efren Espinoza homered twice. DH Hector Garanzuay was 3 for 3 and stole a base.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 3 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 12 0
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Win: Medina (1-0) Loss: Patrone (0-1)

Panama gave the "azzurri" their first loss of the tournament, as former major leaguer Rafael Medina (who had pitched in Italy's Serie A1 as well) stifled the Italian bats, shutting them out for 6 innings on 3 hits and no walks. Three relievers each worked one frame to finish off the gem.

On the other side, Italy's Dominican hurler Sandy Patrone, a long-time Serie A1 presence, could not get going, allowing six hits in two innings. Panama put it out of reach with one out in the first when DH Sherman Obando crushed a 3-run home run.

In a losing effort, DH Maximiliano De Biase was 2 for 2.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Japan 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 0
USA 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 - 5 8 0
Win: Duensing (1-0) Loss: Kawasaki (0-1)

The US put this one away early. 2B Jayson Nix singled with one out in the first and DH Andy LaRoche drew a walk from Teruo Kawasaki. Cleanup hitter and LF Delwyn Young then smacked a full count offering into deep center field for a 3-run circuit clout. Japan's offense never got going against Brian Duensing, Neal Musser, Jeff Stevens and Chris Booker. The US tacked on two more in the 8th when 3B Evan Longoria doubled home Nix and LaRoche.

Japan got the bases loaded in the 9th against US closer Chris Booker but RF Kei Nomoto, a star in the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, struck out.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
Canada 2 0 0 0 1 3 2 2 10 13 1
Win: J. Richmond (1-0) Loss: Almstetter (0-1)

3B Matt Rogelstad (3 for 5, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B) and CF Jeremy Ware (3 for 4, 2-run homer) led the Canadian offense as Germany again lost an 8-inning contest. Jamie Richmond (7 innings) and Chris Leroux (1 inning) combined on the four-hit shutout for Team Canada.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Netherlands 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 7 14 0
Venezuela 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 7 1
Win: Berkenbosch (2-0) Loss: Morales (0-1) Save: van Mil (1)

In an important game for both teams, the Netherlands emerged victorious. CF Roger Bernadina opened the contest with a wind-aided double to left. SS Hainley Statia singled. After 3B Raily Legito fanned, DH Sharnol Adriana doubled in Bernadina. C Sidney de Jong then hit a sacrifice fly to score Statia. RF Dirk van 't Klooster singled in Adriana for a 3-0 lead.

Venezuela quickly closed the gap when 1B Manuel Ramirez cracked a 2-run homer against David Bergman in the bottom of the first.

In the second, LF Bryan Engelhardt doubled and 2B Roel Koolen rapped an infield hit. Bernadina drove a long single into right to score Engelhardt. One out later, Legito singled home Koolen for a 5-2 lead.

Venezuela again rallied as RF Willie Vasquez scored when Bergman hit 2B Liu Rodriguez with the bases loaded to make it 5-3. Kenny Berkenbosch relieved the ineffective Bergman and got a double play ball from 3B Lino Connell to end that threat.

Venezuela never threatened much after that. Bernadina (3 for 5, 2B, R, RBI) and Engelhardt (3 for 3, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR, BB) led the Dutch attack while Berkenbosch (3 1/3 scoreless innings) and Twins farmhand and Dutch team newcomer Loek van Mil (2 1/3 perfect innings, 2 strikeouts) provided excellent relief to try to keep the Dutch in the running for a quarterfinal spot.

Oddly, it was exactly five years to the day since the teams had met most recently, in the 2002 Intercontinental Cup.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Korea 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 7 1
Cuba 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 - 7 9 1
Win: Chapman (1-0) Loss: Jin (0-1)

In a battle of the last two unbeaten teams in Pool B, Cuba cruised to a 7-2 win. 2B Héctor Olivera Jr. went 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 runs before being forced out of the game due to injury. LF Frederich Cepeda was 2 for 3 with a double, run and 2 RBI. Aroldis Chapman struck out nine in 7 innings and Yunieski Maya added five more K's in the final two innings as the South Korean bats were no match for the Cuban arms in this game.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Australia 0 2 12 1 5 6 0 26 30 0
Thailand 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 4 1
Win: Fingleson (1-0) Loss: Tongthong (0-1)

Australia set a Baseball World Cup record by scoring 26 runs against the hapless Thai team. CF Trent Oeltjen (4 for 5, 2 BB, 3 RBI), 3B Gavin Fingleson (3 doubles, 5 RBI), LF Justin Huber (3 for 6, 4 RBI, 2 2B), DH Glenn Williams (3 for 4, 4 RBI, the only HR of the rout), SS Brad Harman (4 for 5, 2 RBI, HBP}, C Matthew Kent (5 for 6, 2 2B, 3 RBI) and 2B Luke Hughes (3 for 5, 2 2B, 2 RBI) all played key roles in the amazing offensive show.

With the Australian staff tired (they had used 7 pitchers against Venezuela a day earlier), the team had position players throw the final four innings. Fingleson worked 3 frames for the win while regular 1B Brett Roneberg threw a hitless, walkless 7th with one strikeout.

[edit] November 11

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Mexico 0 0 0 2 0 4 1 0 2 9 14 1
Taiwan 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 5 7 0
Win: Cobos (1-0) Loss: Ni (0-1)

Taiwan took its first loss of the tournament as Mexico continued their comeback. 1B Baltazar Lopez slapped a 2-run homer off of Ming-Chieh Hsu in the 4th to break a scoreless game open. Taiwan came back on homers from Chia-Hsien Hsieh and CF Kuo-Hui Lo as part of a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth as starter Hector D. Rodriguez ran into trouble.

Mexico scored two more off of Hsu in the sixth to tie the game. With two outs, LF Ying-Chieh Liao lost a fly ball in the sun, giving 2B Fernando Alejos a 2-run double to put Mexico ahead by a 6-2 margin.

The Mexicans pulled ahead 9-4 entering the bottom of the 9th. Three relievers struggled in the bottom of the 9th to try to close it up, as Taiwan scored one run and loaded the bases with two outs for Hsieh, who was retired by Jose De Jesus Jimenez to end it. Jose Cobos got the win with 3 scoreless innings for Mexico. CF Sergio Contreras was 2 for 4 with a homer while DH Hector Garanzuay was 3 for 5 with a RBI.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Italy 0 5 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 8 13 4
South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 1
Win: Oberto (1-0) Loss: Dancer (0-1)

The Italians cruised to an expected easy win here, with numerous players chipping in. 3B Alex Liddi (2 for 4, HR), DH Max De Biase (4 for 5, 3 RBI, 2B, 3B) and CF Lorenzo Avagnina (3 for 4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B) all had fine days at the plate, as De Biase was now 10 for 14 for the tournament. Orlando "Junior" Oberto pitched six shutout frames and Cody Cillo and Alessandro Maestri wrapped up the game for Italy.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
USA 2 2 1 0 0 0 7 12 14 2
Spain 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 8 0
Win: Blevins (1-0) Loss: Rizo (0-1)

The US put on a power display, smacking six home runs in this rout. DH Andy LaRoche homered twice, driving in four. Also going deep were C Bryan Anderson (4 for 4), 1B Steve Pearce, 3B Evan Longoria and CF Colby Rasmus (a 3-run inside-the-park blast). 2B Jayson Nix doubled and tripled to join in the attack.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 1
Japan 0 1 0 3 2 0 0 0 - 6 9 0
Win: Settsu (2-0) Loss: Ramon Ramirez (0-1) Save: Kohhei (1)

Tadashi Settsu pitched 8 shutout innings, allowing only three hits while walking two before being taken out. Reliever Hideto Isomura made it interesting by allowing two runs and loading the bases before Hasebe Kohhei came on for the save. Ramon Ramirez failed to last through the 4th. Japan featured a balanced attack with 8 players combining for the 9 hits and 5 players dividing 6 RBI amongst themselves. LF Joel Vega (2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI) led Panama's offense.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 0
Australia 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2 6 0
Win: Bright (1-0) Loss: Hwang (0-1)


Following their record-setting destruction of Thailand, Australia returned to the familarity of winning or losing at the last possible moment, deciding the game in the 9th. Adam Blackley threw four shut out innings, while Won-jun Chang threw three. In the 5th, RF Ji-wan Na, SS Si-hyun Son and C San Song all singled but Na was erased on a double play and 1B Han-joon Yoo whiffed to end the frame. Australia's #9 hitter, 2B Luke Hughes, homered in the bottom of the sixth inning, for his second homerun of the tournament, to make it 1-0.

In the 7th, Son singled with two out and then scored on a double by Song to knock Blackley from the game. Neither team challenged in the 8th. In the top of the 9th, Na singled and Woo was hit by a pitch but Son hit into a double play which SS Brad Harman handled unassisted.

In the bottom of the 9th, LF Justin Huber doubled to left with one out. Cleanup hitter Glenn Williams struck out against reliever Doo-sung Hwang. DH Ben Risinger had a 2-strike count from Hwang (who had fanned 4 in 1 2/3 IP) but drilled a 93-mph fastball over the head of CF Seung-hwa Lee for the game-winning single as Huber raced home.

Regarding Australia's run of dramatic wins, Huber commented “I have played a lot of games for a lot of teams and I have never been involved in a streak like this before.”

Australia improved to 4-1, their lone loss coming by a single run to Cuba.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Canada 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 1 0 7 9 0
Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 0
Win: McNiven (1-0) Loss: Cordemans (0-1)

The Dutch team had its worst game so far in the tournament, though they stayed in it for over half of the contest. The club was missing its leadoff hitter, CF Roger Bernadina, who had been a big success in the 2007 European Championship and the Cup to this point. Bernadina had been injured in their extra-inning loss to Australia.

Rob Cordemans and Brooks McNiven engaged in a fine pitching duel, with the two exchanging goose eggs for five innings. In the sixth, things went sour for Cordemans, a 3-time Olympian. DH Mike Saunders led off with a home run and LF Jeremy Ware drew Cordemans' 5th walk of the day. That prompted manager Robert Eenhoorn to yank Rob in favor of Dave Draijer. Draijer gave up a single to 1B Emerson Frostad and 3B Taylor Green brought in Ware on a ground-ball force out.

DH Sharnol Adriana almost tied it in the bottom of the sixth but his long fly to center with a man aboard fell short of the wall and was caught.

Draijer walked SS Emmanuel Garcia to begin the 7th. 2B Matt Rogelstad singled. Duko Jansen, the 2007 Hoofdklasse leader in ERA, came in. He walked Saunders. Ware hit a ground ball and Garcia was thrown out at home. Frostad singled home Rogelstad and Saunders. Jansen retired Green but RF Jamie Romak singled to score Ware and Frostad for a 6-0 lead.

LF Bryan Engelhardt homered in the 7th to give the Netherlands its only run as the two teams tied in the standings at 3-2.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Cuba 1 6 0 1 0 0 2 10 10 0
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
Win: Marti (1-0) Loss: Paz (0-1)

Yadel Martí came one out from pitching the second perfect game in World Cup history - David Garcia had thrown one for Mexico in 1965. Yadel mixed his 90-mph fastball with sliders and curves to keep the Venezuelans silent. 3B Lino Connell singled with two outs in the 7th to ruin Martí's historic bid.

Cuba knocked out Venezuelan starter Jackson Paz with none out in the second and he was charged with 6 runs. Former major leaguer Beiker Graterol was much better, though he led to a bench-clearing episode in the 5th when he hit CF Alfredo Despaigne's helmet with a pitch.

Four Cuban batters scored two and two different Cuban hitters each drove in two. RF Yoandry Urgellés might have been the best Cuban hitter, though, going 2 for 3 with a walk, double, run and RBI. Despaigne and 3B Yuliesky Gourriel both went deep in the rout as Cuba remained the lone unbeaten team.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3
Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 - 2 2 0
Win: Fries (1-0) Loss: Heebthong (0-2)

Both teams made history. Germany won its first World Cup game ever, while Thailand avoided the mercy rule for the first time in a Cup game. Michael Otto fanned 6 in 6 1/3 innings of two-hit ball but left with the score still even at 0 as Krissada Heebthong (a Thai pitcher who was getting experience with a Japanese university) was shutting down a German offense that had done surprisingly well against established teams. In the bottom of the 7th, 1B Jens Heymer doubled. A Heebthong error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by DH Markus Gienger brought Heymer home. CF Sascha Lutz grounded in another run later in the inning for the margin of victory. Heymer had Germany's only two hits against Heebthong. Dirk Fries got the historic win in relief of Otto, working 2 2/3 for the victory.

[edit] November 12

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
Taiwan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 0
Win: Lin (1-0) Loss: Di Roma (0-1)

In a battle to see who would tie the US for the top spot in Pool A, the home country and surprising Italy duked it out for an excellent pitching battle, deciding by a highly controversial umpiring call. The game was a rescheduled make-up game after Italy-Taiwan had been rained out six days prior.

The star of the day was 2-time CPBL MVP En-Yu Lin, who struck out 13 in a complete game shutout.

For 7 innings, Lin and 36-year-old ex-major leaguer Tony Fiore threw shutout ball. Fiore was yanked after 121 pitches.

Italy's only real chance of the first 8 innings came when DH Max De Biase led off with a double, but he was stranded.

In the 9th, Italian captain Davide Dallospedale singled with one away. De Biase followed with a single and Dallospedale raced to third, sliding under 3B Tai-Shan Chang's glove. Umpire Man-hwang Suk of South Korea called Dallospedale out, though replays showed that Dallospedale had slid in safely. Italian manager Marco Mazzieri said "we are not happy" after the game. Lin retired cleanup hitter Mario Chiarini on a fly to center to end the top of the 9th.

In the bottom of the inning, Chris Di Roma got two quick outs with the #8 hitter coming up. He walked C Chun-Chang Yeh, though, and LF Ying-Chieh Liao singled. SS Chih-Sheng Lin worked the count to 2-2 from Di Roma. Lin appeared to go around on a check swing on Di Roma's next offering but the first base umpire said he did not swing in another questionable call against Italy and in favor of the home team. Given new life, Lin singled to right to score Yeh with the game's only run in the most controversial game of the tournament to that point.

[edit] November 13

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 8 2
Australia 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 - 4 11 1
Win: Mitchinson (1-0) Loss: Márquez (0-2) Save: Thomas (1)

The Aussies kept up their penchant for close wins while Germany continued to exceed expectations, hanging in this game until the end. In the first, CF Trent Oeltjen singled off of Enorbel Márquez's pitching hand and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Michael Collins. Márquez remained in the game despite the injury, going the distance to generally contain an offense with two major leaguers and at least three others with a good chance of making it to The Show.

Australia nibbled away with RBI singles from Tom Brice, Luke Hughes and Glenn Williams for a 4-0 lead after 7.

Germany came back in the 8th when C and cleanup hitter Kai Gronauer doubled off of Tristan Crawford to score Jens Heymer and Jendrick Speer. In the 9th, Germany got two men on with one out, aided by an error by Aussie SS Brad Harman. Brad Thomas struck out the next batter, CF Sascha Lutz, but then threw a wild pitch to put both runners into scoring position for #2 batter Speer. Speer only managed a weak ground ball out to 2B Luke Hughes to end the game as Australia again went to the final play.

Oeltjen (4 for 4, 2 R) again led Australia, while Lutz was 2 for 5 with a double for Germany.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
South Africa 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 4 2
USA 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 4 10 0
Win: Musser (1-0) Loss: Ekermans (0-2) Save: Booker (2)

Just like Australia, the US had a surprisingly close battle. CF Colby Rasmus opened the game with a single, stole second and scored on a double by 3B Andy LaRoche. 1B Steve Pearce singled in LaRoche. In the second inning, LaRoche brought in another run by hitting a sacrifice fly to drive in SS Brian Bixler. In the 4th, LaRoche once again came up big, driving home Rasmus. The US failed to score again while South Africa narrowed the game to a 2-run contest before falling. LaRoche (3 for 3, R, 3 RBI) was a one-man show for the US, taking part in all the team's runs, while Pearce (3 for 4) and Rasmus (2 for 3) provided good support.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Cuba 1 0 1 2 3 4 0 11 14 2
Thailand 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 2
Win: Banos (2-0) Loss: Tongthong (0-2)

Cuba locked up first place in Pool B with one of the milder routs of Thailand as many starters were rested. 3B Yulieski Gourriel homered twice. 2B Rudy Reyes was the only Cuban position player starter not to score, but drove in 3 and doubled twice. C Yosvany Peraza smacked a long 3-run homer as well.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Netherlands 0 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 5 10 2
South Korea 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 8 2
Win: Boyd (1-0) Loss: Lee (1-1) Save: van Mil (2)

In a match-up of 3-2 teams vying for a quarterfinal slot, the Netherlands improved their hopes with a 5-1 victory over South Korea.

2000 Olympian Seung-ho Lee fanned 5 of the first 7 batters he faced. Two errors by 3B Yong-kyu Choi helped the Netherlands threaten but Lee struck out SS Hainley Statia and DH Sharnol Adriana. In the 4th, cleanup hitter/catcher Sidney de Jong homered to left to put the Dutch ahead 1-0. 1B Vince Rooi drew a walk, advanced on a ground-out and scored on a broken-bat single by Roel Koolen for a 2-0 edge.

Lee struck out his 10th and 11th batters to open the fifth, but Adriana homered to left, giving himself a sweet present for his 37th birthday. #9 hitter Choi homered in the bottom of the fifth to close it to 3-1. Rooi capped the scoring with a 2-run single to score Raily Legito and Adriana.

Providing the fine pitching for the Dutch were Leon Boyd (1 run in 6 innings) and Twins farmhand Loek van Mil (3 shutout innings for the save).

Koolen was 3 for 5 with a RBI and two steals.

If South Korea beats Germany in the last round-robin game, they advance if either the Netherlands or Canada losses, meaning they have a pretty good chance to move on.

The Netherlands can advance with a win over Cuba or if they lose to Cuba and South Korea loses to Germany. Either situation would be unlikely but not impossible.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Japan 0 0 1 7 1 0 1 10 9 0
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Win: Saito (2-0) Loss: Corradini (0-1)

Italy's hopes to advance took a major hit with a loss to Japan in another matchup of 3-2 teams. Italy fell into a 3-way tie for fourth in Pool A while Japan moved into third in the Pool. Kenichi Yokoyama tripled in the third and came home on a Tsutohu Sasaki sac fly. In the 4th, Japan piled it on with a 3-run triple by Sasaki being the big hit as the team batted around the order. The Italian bats went silent with only Mario Chiarini and Leonardo Zileri collecting hits.

Italy needed a game 7 loss by Panama to South Africa and a win over Mexico to advance.

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Spain 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 2
Mexico 2 5 7 0 0 5 - 19 19 1
Win: Delgadillo (1-1) Loss: Hernandez (0-2)

Yoel Hernandez was roughed up for the second straight outing while Mexico won its third straight as its revival continued with a rout to remain in quarterfinal contention, tying Italy and Panama for 4th in Pool A. Mexico needed to beat Italy and for Panama to lose to South Africa to advance.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Taiwan 0 1 1 0 1 5 0 1 1 10 10 1
Panama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3
Win: Yang (2-0) Loss: Acosta (0-1)

Taiwan tied the US atop Pool A and clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with an easy rout of the defending Bronze Medalists. Two errors by C Nelson Robledo helped Taiwan put five runs on the board in the sixth in the easy rout.


Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Venezuela 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 5 0
Canada 1 0 0 2 2 0 0 1 - 6 10 2
Win: Avery (1-1) Loss: Torres (1-1)

Canada tied the Netherlands for third in Pool B by beating Venezuela. In the first, Taylor Green hit a sacrifice fly to score Emmanuel Garcia with Canada's first. In the third, Saul Torres homered against James Avery to tie the score, but Avery would allow no more runs and just two other hits in a 6-inning stint. Nick Weglarz doubled home Green in the 4th and came home on a Chris Robinson single. In the 5th, Mike Saunders homered with Matt Rogelstad aboard for his 3rd homer of the Cup. Venezuela challenged in the 9th but T.J. Burton came on to close it up for Canada.

[edit] November 14

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Netherlands 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 10 1
Cuba 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 0
Win: Bergman (1-0) Loss: Martinez (0-1)

Cuba lost its first World Cup game since 2001 and lost to a European team for the first time ever in Cup play as the Dutch used exquisite pitching to put this one away. The Netherlands clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with the win.

In the second inning, C Sidney de Jong and LF Bryan Engelhardt singled against Arley Sanchez. After 1B Vince Rooi was retired, RF Dirk van 't Klooster singled in de Jong. Diegomar Markwell, coming off his