Wednesday nights game was a classic "Win and you're in" for Team USA as they faced off against Columbia. Outside of their game against Canada, USA has fallen behind in their other three games. Let's get into it.
Trout tripled off the center-field wall in the first inning but was stranded on third base. Next at-bat, he singled home Mookie Betts with two outs for the first run of the game. Next time up it was the top of the fifth with USA trailing 2-1, runners in scoring positions. Yeah, Trout reminded everyone he's the best player in baseball. Trout went 3 for 4 with a triple and all three USA RBI. Mookie Betts deserves some credit for being able to get on base in front of Trout, scoring two of the three USA runs.
Here are some of the biggest struggles Team USA faced during pool play, as well as last night against Columbia.
Falling Behind Early
USA finished pool play 3-1, but fell behind in three of its four games. The lone exception was when USA scored nine runs against Canada in the first inning. Moving to the quarterfinals and, possibly, beyond, USA will face much stiffer competition and it would behoove them to quit playing from behind.
Offensive Struggles
As passionate MLB fans we are aware of small sample sizes, potential slumps, and to never overreact. Saying the USA offense is bad or even mediocre when it's actually loaded would be just flat out SILLY. Still, this is a tournament of small samples, however not to throw shade at any other teams, but, Japan has barely been challenged. USA isn't playing to its potential on the offensive end, taking out the nine run 1st inning against Canada. Need that to change next round.
Starting Pitching Issues
It doesn't help when Team USA doesn't have Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Jacob DeGrom, and some of the other top tier starters the US has. Diamondbacks' righty Merrill Kelly is 34 years old, never been an All-Star and he got the ball in a game USA really needed to win. In three innings of work, he gave up two runs on four hits, two walks, and one strikeout. It wasn't a strong performance, but it could've been a lot worse and USA certainly should have provided more support.
Luckily the bullpen came in and was able to shove. Kendall Graveman gave up a single but erased it with a pickoff to end his scoreless inning. Daniel Bard worked around a walk. David Bednar and Jason Adam were outstanding. Devin Williams and Ryan Pressly shut the door.
Whats Next
USA will play Venezuela next round, who went 4-0 in its pool, beating Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Israel and Nicaragua. The Venezuela roster includes a lot of familiar names, such as Jose Altuve, Ronald Acuña, Miguel Cabrera, Salvador Perez, Anthony Santander, Luis Arraez, Andrés Giménez, Eugenio Suárez, Gleyber Torres and, well, you get the point. They are loaded.
Adam Wainwright, who started the USA opener, figures to get the ball again on the mound, but nothing has been made official just yet.
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