World Baseball Classic: Long Ball Lifts US Past Venezuela, Into Second Round

The bats are alive for Team USA. Now only if their pitching can rise up to that level, they will be unstoppable.

It was a rocky start for Houston Astros starter Roy Oswalt. Roy-O went three and two thirds giving up six hits and surrendering two walks, resulting in three Venezuelan runs.

But the American hitters would not lead that early deficit stand. Utility man Mark DeRosa had three early RBI, with two coming on a triple and the other on a bases loaded walk.

Chris Iannetta followed up DeRosa’s walk with a bases-clearing double, giving the US a 6-3 lead that they would never lose.

The bats would not go to sleep however. In the seventh, Adam Dunn belted a solo shot into the upper deck and Mark DeRosa added his fourth RBI on a sac fly. In the following inning, Chris Iannetta and Curtis Granderson both knocked in a run with singles. Then to cap off the evening, Ryan Braun belted a solo shot.

The bullpen did a good job of keeping Venezuela at bay. Six relievers in all came out of the pen, surrendering only three runs is almost seven innings of work. Florida Marlins closer Matt Lindstrom was credited with the win, pitching 1.1 perfect innings.

The US is getting a lot of their production out of their backstops, in Brian McCann and Chris Ianneta. Yesterday, McCann went 1-for-2, with 1 HR and 3 RBI, and today Ianneta went 2-for-3 with a 2B, 2 BBs, and 4 RBI.

As of now, Kevin Youkilis and Adam Dunn lead the team in homers with two a piece.

Venezuela got a poor effort from their pitching staff today, with all seven pitchers giving up at least one unearned run.

Jose Lopez was the offensive leader for the team, going 3-for-4 with three doubles and two runs scored.

The Detroit Tigers portion of the line-up had an off night. Carlos Guillen was the only one of the three who produced, going 1-for-3 with a homer, 2 RBI, a BB, and two runs scored. Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera combined to go 0-for-9 with three strikeouts and six left-on-base.

Next up for team USA is Game Five in Pool C. Right now, that match-up is between Venezuela and the winner of the Canada/Italy game tomorrow night. Although the game determines who wins the pool, it is meaningless as America has already clinched a spot in the next round.