Jonathan Lynch lifts USA past Cuba
Jonathan Lynch’s home run highlighted a solid performance by USA in defeating strong-hitting Cuba on Tuesday, bouncing back with an 8-4 victory after their historic loss to Czech Republic the day before, to improve their record to 3-1 in the XVII WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup at Rosedale Park.
Cuba had more hits, but could not get any runs across, while USA played better in putting their runners in scoring positions.
USA got their first two runs on the board off, as their runners advance from base to base with an illegal pitch.
After Blaine Milheim was walked to first base, he advanced to third off Erick Ochoa’s single to centre field. A couple of illegal pitch calls saw Milheim score and Ochoa move to second, eventually putting Ochoa to make the second run and Lynch to second base for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
USA made a pitching change in the top of the third inning, relieving Jon Gwizdala with Javier Caballero Labanino. After hitting a single to right field, Luis Dominguez gave Cuba its first run when Yesander Rodriguez doubled to deep right centre. Yesander Rodriguez complimented that with his own run off Miguel Savigne’s single to level the score at 2-2.
USA scored four in the bottom of the third inning with Milheim completing another run after a throwing error by Cuba, with Ochoa and Matt Palazzo moving into scoring positions. Two successive walks by Lynch and Cameron Schiller, paved the way for Ochoa for the second run, until Palazzo and Lynch’s successive runs on Zachary Shaw’s single to put USA ahead again 6-2.
Lynch carried his momentum from the third inning into the fourth as he beat Guber Plutin, who relieved Alain Roman at the mound. With Ochoa was on base after a walk, Lynch’s homer to deep centre field extended USA’s lead to 8-2.
Cuba managed to score one run each in the sixth and seventh innings. First through Osvaldo Perez’s homer, the second by pinch runner Yuri Rodriguez off Savigne’s single. Savigne and Perez were both struck out by USA reliever Bradley Kilpatrick to close the game at 8-4.
Quotes - US Coach Ron Hackett
“We came out today a lot better than we came out yesterday. We stayed within ourselves, we had really good at-bats and the pitchers threw really well. It was a great team victory. And an important one because it pretty much guarantees that we are in the playoffs now at 3 and 1. We have a chance tomorrow against Argentina to make a statement and go into (the Super Round) 2-0.
"We are happy where we are at. We are set up well – the guys have good mentality. I am really excited.
"To go into the Super Round 2-0 is critical.
"Today I was most pleased with our intensity and focus. That was the key today. There was a lot of outside distraction with illegal pitches and what-not, but we stayed focussed on what we had to do – that was the key."
