Team USA Defeats Venezuela, 15-6, in WBC Pool C Action

USA (2-0) 15, Venezuela (1-1) 6
SP: Oswalt (ND) - 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 65 pitches
W: Lindstrom (1-0) - 1.1 IP, 1 K, 21 pitches
L: V. Zambrano (0-1) - 1.0 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 32 pitches

An eight-run sixth inning propelled Team USA to a 16-5 win over Venezuela. Chris Iannetta and Mark DeRosa - both playing their first game of the tournament - each recorded four RBI. The win qualifies the U.S. for Round 2 in Miami.

Box Score/Gameday - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_08_usaint_venint_1

Recap - http://mlb.mlb.com/wbc/2009/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090308&content_id=3946628&vkey=wbc_recap&team=usa

Team USA scoring:

4th Inning - 2 runs: Mark DeRosa's 2 RBI triple scored Kevin Youkilis and Adam Dunn

6th Inning - 8 runs: DeRosa scored Youkilis on a bases loaded walk; Chris Iannetta's 3 RBI double scored David Wright, Dunn and DeRosa; Dustin Pedroia's 2 RBI double scored Iannetta and Derek Jeter; Youkilis' 2 RBI HR (2) scored Pedroia

7th Inning - 1 run: Dunn hit a solo HR (2)

8th Inning - 3 runs: DeRosa's RBI sacrifice fly scored Youkilis, Iannetta's RBI single scored Wright, Curtis Granderson's RBI single scored Shane Victorino

9th Inning - 1 run: Ryan Braun hit a solo HR

Manager Davey Johnson's Post-game Quotes:
On how Team USA is coming together: "The make-up of this team is right off the chart. They got together the first day and got in a circle and started talking about things, talking about redeeming what they did three years ago. And it's just been an outstanding club."
On Chipper Jones' injury: "Well, you know, we have an injury to Chipper, so I told David Wright, it's probably the last time you are going to DH. I think any time somebody has a little strain in the spring, you have to be real cautious, and I doubt if he'd be available for a week or two. So that's for the rest of this format here, he's down."

Notes: Jones was removed from the game after the 5th inning (oblique)...he will be re-evaluated Monday morning...Youkilis' sixth-inning home run came on the 11th pitch at-bat...announced attendance for the USA/Venezuela game was 13,094...the U.S. plays again on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET in Toronto.