Sunday, March 15, 2009

Team USA on the brink

Carlos Beltran had 3 hits including a home run as Puerto Rico punished USA 11-1 on Saturday, leaving the Americans to play for their lives on Sunday. They will take on the Netherlands, a 3-1 loser to Venezuela Saturday afternoon. In that contest, original BlueClaw Yoel Hernandez faced 3 hitters, retiring 1, allowing 1 hit and the other batter reached on an error. None of those runners scored.

The USA v Netherlands games is at 7:30, sandwiched between the 2 games from San Diego, Cuba v Japan at 4:00, and Korea v Mexico at 11:00. All 3 are on ESPN2.

In Kissimmee Saturday, Carlos Carrasco picked up his second victory of the spring in the Phillies' 5-2 win over the Astros. Carlos, the #1 pitching prospect in the system, threw 3 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks, striking out 4. Andrew Carpenter came in later and had his best outing of the spring so far, a 4 inning stint in which he allowed just 3 hits, 1 run (on a home run by Mark Saccomanno), NO walks and 4 Ks. Drew, who won 17 games in the Thresher's championship season in 2007, struggled through 2008 and hopes to be back on track for this year. Jason Donald was 1 for 4, stole 2 bases, and scored 2 runs for the Phils, and Lou Marson picked up a walk in 3 plate appearances. Michael Bourn was 0 for 4, with a walk for the Astros.

In Lakeland, the Tigers beat the Blue Jays, 10-4. Randy Ruiz was 0 for 1 in that one.

Finally, MLBN televised the White Sox-Rangers Cactus League game yesterday, so I got a chance to see Greg Golson play for Texas. Golson looks great in the Rangers uniform, and made a couple of above average plays in the outfield, but was 0 for 3 at the plate.

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