Team USA Falls to Venezuela in Round 2 Finale, 10-6

Venezuela (5-1, 3-0) 10, USA (4-3, 2-2) 6
SP: Guthrie (L, 0-2) - 1.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 2 ER, 52-31 pitches-strikes
WP: Galarraga (W, 1-0) - 3.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 79-46

In a game to determine seeding for the WBC semifinals this weekend in Los Angeles, Venezuela topped the U.S., 10-6. Wednesday marked the third time the two teams have faced each other in the event, and the win was Venezuela's second in a row over Team USA (the Americans won game one). Mark DeRosa led the offensive attack for the U.S., going 3-for-5 with a HR and three RBI, and Brian Roberts continued his stellar play as a newcomer to the team, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Venezuela enters the semis as the No. 1 seed from Group 2, while Team USA is the #2 seed.

Box Score/Gameday - http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_18_usaint_venint_1
Recap - http://mlb.mlb.com/wbc/2009/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090318&content_id=4025106&vkey=wbc&team=ven

Team USA scoring:

• 2nd Inning - 1 run: Curtis Granderson's RBI single scored Shane Victorino
• 3rd Inning - 1 run: Mark DeRosa's RBI single scored Brian Roberts
• 4th Inning - 1 run: Derek Jeter reached on a fielder's choice and an errant throw scored Chris Iannetta
• 5th Inning - 2 runs: DeRosa's 2-run HR scored Adam Dunn
• 6th Inning - 1 run: David Wright's RBI fielder's choice scored Roberts

Manager Davey Johnson's Post-game Quotes:
On the game: "I've got to play some guys out of positions that they're not used to playing, and that is an issue, a concern."

USA Baseball Executive Director/CEO Pre-game Quotes:
On potential roster changes: "We've got a few guys having medical evaluations as we speak, and until we know the results of those evaluations, we wouldn't be prepared to make any roster adjustments, because it goes beyond just you lost this player, add this player."

Notes: 1B Kevin Youkilis left Team USA with a sprained left ankle Wednesday morning and the Red Sox later announced that he will not return to WBC action...OF Ryan Braun was held out of action again on Wednesday (right back strain) and will be re-evaluated Thursday...the announced attendance for Wednesday's USA/Venezuela game was 16,575...the U.S. will next face the winner of the Korea vs. Cuba/Japan on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.