AMERICANS CLOBBERED IN WBC SEMIS

The United States took a shaky pitching staff into their WBC semifinal matchup against Japan, and went on to be crunched, 9-4, last Saturday at Dodger Stadium. Roy Oswalt, who had pitched creditably his first two times out in the tournament, was rocked for five Japanese runs in the fourth inning before USA manager Dave Johnson finally brought John Grabow in from the bullpen. The Americans had led, 2-1, before that fateful frame.


To their credit, the USA battled back, scoring two runs on a Mark DeRosa double in the eighth to come to within 6-4, but Johnson raised eyebrows when he sent in right-handed batter Evan Longoria to pinch-hit for lefty batter Curtis Granderson against righty Takahiro Mahara. Longoria struck out, and the rally died when Brian Roberts tapped a 1-3 comebacker to Mahara for the third out. Japan scored three more times in the bottom of the eighth to close out the game’s scoring.

AMERICANS HOBBLE INTO FINAL FOUR

In reaching the WBC semifinals, the United States has already surpassed their 2006 showing, but they paid for it along the way. After an embarrassing 11-1 loss to Puerto Rico last Saturday in a game called after seven innings on the mercy rule, the Americans eliminated The Netherlands, 9-3, Sunday night and exacted revenge Tuesday by sending Puerto Rico home with a 6-5 comeback win as David Wright’s two-run single off Fernando Cabrera ended the contest in the ninth. The USA fought back to within one run of Venezuela Wednesday as Mark DeRosa hit a two-run homer, but fell short.


Along the way, the Americans lost Dustin Pedroia, Chipper Jones, Kevin Youkilis and Matt Lindstrom to injuries. The USA was scheduled to play Japan Sunday at Dodger Stadium.