Team USA rallies past Colombia in 10 innings in WBC, 3-2
Mar 11, 2017, 10:41 AM | Updated: Mar 21, 2017, 2:33 pm
United States' Adam Jones (10) celebrates with Josh Harrison, center, and Jonathan Lucroy (25) after hitting a game-winning RBI single to score Christian Yelich during the 10th inning against Colombia in a first-round game of the World Baseball Classic, Friday, March 10, 2017, in Miami. The U.S. won 3-2. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
MIAMI — Retired manager Jim Leyland was back at his familiar perch on the dugout steps Friday night, looking tense as he watched his U.S. team go hitless until the sixth inning and flirt with a devastating defeat before pulling out a 10th-inning win in its first game at the World Baseball Classic.
“Now you know why I’m not managing anymore,” Leyland said with a laugh.
He and his players could smile only after Adam Jones hit the winning RBI single with two out in the 10th to beat Colombia 3-2.
The Americans improved their all-time WBC record to 11-10. They failed to make the finals in the three previous events and next face defending champions the Dominican Republic on Saturday.
“I’m hoping this win takes a little bit of pressure off and we can relax a little bit,” Leyland said. “You don’t relax against the Dominican Republic, but at least the guys feel good they got a win under their belt.”
U.S. starter Chris Archer retired all 12 batters he faced. Archer, coming off a 9-19 season with Tampa Bay, struck out three and needed only 41 pitches to get through four innings.
He left the game well shy of the limit of 65 pitches for the first round because the Rays had requested that Archer pitch only four innings, Leyland said.
“It was tough, but we stuck to the plan,” Archer said.
Colombian starter Carlos Quintana was also dominant, holding the Americans hitless until Brandon Crawford singled with two out in the sixth. Quintana was then pulled because he had thrown 63 pitches, and Colombia’s 2-0 lead was soon gone, too.
William Cuevas gave up an RBI double by Jones and threw a wild pitch that allowed the tying run to score in the sixth.
“I was very hurt with the outcome,” Quintana said in Spanish. “We had many chances to get the victory. We didn’t come here for a vacation. Every pitch was with all energy possible.”
With one out in the 10th, Christian Yelich and Crawford walked against Guillermo Moscoso, and both advanced on a groundout. The noisy crowd of 22,580 was on its feet when Jones lined a single on an 0-2 pitch and was mobbed by his teammates.
“I’ve had a lot of good moments with the Orioles,” Jones said, “but this one ranks up there pretty high.”
Pat Neshek struck out Jesus Valdez with two on to end the Colombian ninth. Tyler Clippard pitched around a walk in the 10th to earn the win.
The Americans star-studded lineup managed just six hits. Arizona Diamondback Paul Goldschmidt got the start at first base and was 0-1 with a walk. He was pinch-hit for in the sixth by Eric Hosmer.
“At times we were probably trying to do too much,” Leyland said. “We were probably a little anxious.”
Marcus Stroman is scheduled to start for the United States against the Dominican Republic’s Edinson Volquez before a sellout crowd Saturday night. The Dominicans won their opening game Thursday against Canada.
The Colombians were making their WBC debut after qualifying for the first time, and they took a 2-0 lead with three consecutive two-out doubles in the fifth off Mychal Givens.
Single-A center fielder Tito Polo of Colombia put on a defensive clinic. He retreated to make running catches and rob Jones and Ian Kinsler of extra-base hits, and made a sprawling catch of Nolan Arenado’s liner with the score tied and two on to end the eighth.
“The end was not good,” manager Luis Urueta said, “but this shows what Colombian baseball is.”
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