Seoul (Korea). Team USA started with a lopsided 17-0 victory over the Netherlands into the XXV IBAF 18U Baseball World Championship in Seoul, Korea. In the evening game at Mokdong Stadium they scored 16 of the 17 runs in the last four innings to blow the score wide open, highlighted by a big nine-run rally in the seventh. It was the first game, which ended early after seven innings due to ten-run mercy rule.
It was a close game in the first three frames, as the United States only were leading by one run thanks to a RBI single by Dominic Nunez in the second. Back to back hits by Nunez and Christian Arroyo made it 3-0 in the fourth as Dutch pitching started to implode. The American offense started to click on all cylinders and they built up a massive lead in the following frames.
Jeremy Martinez and Christian Arroyo combined for five hits, three doubles, four runs and six RBI to lead the US American lineup. Andrew and Reese McGuire managed to score seven times even though they only had one hit apiece. Garrett Williams struck out nine batters in six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and three walks. Heady Connor closed it out in the seventh to seal the five-hit shutout.
The Netherlands couldn’t do much on offense, as only Kevin Loos managed a pair of hits. On the mound Maickel Rietel did a good job limiting the damage in the first two innings, taking the loss after two innings pitched and one run on two hits. But Jose Moreno and Thomas Prikkel were overmatched, leading to the blowout.
