Austin, Alvarez power offense as USA wins its Olympic baseball opener 8-1 against Israel

In USA's first Olympic baseball game since 2008, Tyler Austin collected three hits and three RBI and Eddy Alvarez scored twice and had two RBI to power the US past Israel, 8-1, Friday night at Yokohama Baseball Stadium. Jon Ryan tossed six inning giving up one run, while the US bullpen ended the game with three scoreless innings.

The first run of the game was scored in the third inning with a soft RBI single down the left field line by Alvarez. One pitch later, Austin -NPB’s Yokohama DeNa BayStars star player- took advantage of playing at his own ballpark and hit a bomb to the longest part of Yokohama Baseball Stadium to make it 3-0. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Israel first baseman Danny Valencia rocketed an up-and-in pitch over the left field fence to score his team’s only run of the game. Ryan Lavarnway and Nick Rickles hit back to back singles with two outs, but Ryan worked his way out of trouble.

USA added another run in the sixth inning, on a bloop single by Bubba Starling that popped out of of the glove of shortstop Scotty Burcham as he dove and fell to the grass in short left. 

The US team scored two more in the seventh on consecutive RBI doubles by Alvarez and Austin; and one in the eighth when Ric Filia scored on a soft grounder to first base. In USA’s last attack, the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup MVP Triston Casas drove in Austin from second base, with a single to right field.

Joe Ryan had a quality start in USA’s opener, tossing six full innings with five hits and one run, while striking out five opponents. He was the winner of the contest. Ryder Ryan, Brandon Dickson and Anthony Carter pitched one scoreless inning each coming from the bullpen, allowing only 2 combined hits.

For Israel, the loss went to Joey Wagman, who allowed four hits and three runs in three innings, while striking out 4. Manager Eric Holtz used six pitchers out of the bullpen to complete the game.

With this result, Israel finishes Group B in third place, and will play an elimination game on Sunday, against Group A’s third place finisher. USA collected their first win of the tournament and tomorrow will face Korea with the first place of the group at stake. First pitch is scheduled at 7 p.m. JST.