The United States held off
elimination Tuesday night with a come from behind win over Puerto Rico, 6-5.
Puerto Rico held a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th,
before closer JC Romero loaded the bases with Shane Victorino, Brian Roberts,
and Jimmy Rollins. Fernando Cabrera relieved Romero before walking Kevin
Youkilis to bring the US to 5-4. Met 3B David Wright singled to right to drive
in Roberts and Rollins to give the US a 6-5 win.
Jonathan Broxton got the
Win, and Romero the Loss. Ted Lily started the game for the Americans and gave
up 3 ER in 3.1 IP.
Alex Rios started the
scoring for Puerto Rico in the second with a solo HR off Lily. The US responded
with 2 runs in the bottom of the 2nd, and Youkilis hit a solo HR in
the 3rd. Met 1B Carlos
Delgado hit a 2-Run HR in the 4th, driving in Ivan Rodriguez to tie
the game at 3 apiece. Rios singled in Rodriguez in the 6th to give
PR a 4-3 lead. Ramon Vasquez singled in Rios in the top of the 9th,
to give Puerto Rico a 5-3 lead.
Nelson Figueroa, Pedro
Feliciano, and JJ Putz all appeared in this game. Figueroa struck out 2 in 2.1
IP, Feliciano pitched two-thirds of an inning with no earned runs and 1 walk.
Putz threw 11 pitches with two strikeouts as part of a scoreless 8th.
The US will play Venezuela
tomorrow to determine the pool winner. The Americans are guaranteed a spot in
the semi-finals.
Till Next Time
