18U Team moves to 3-0 at Pan Ams

BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela -- Jameson Taillon struck out 12 and gave up three hits in an overpowering performance, and the USA Baseball 18U National Team logged a seven-run inning for a third consecutive day in a 14-0 10-run-rule shutout Sunday against Panama in the third day of the COPABE "AAA" Pan American Junior Championships at Daniel Canonico Stadium.

In moving its tourney record to 3-0, Team USA used another big offensive day and continued solid pitching to remain unbeaten. Through three games, the U.S. has now outscored their opponents 41-3.

Taillon led the way on the mound for Team USA with a strong, six-inning outing. The right hander struck out five in a row at one juncture and fanned the side in both the second and fourth innings. He allowed only one Panama runner (1-1) to reach third base and no more than two baserunners in any inning. Taillon issued just two walks. Kyle Ryan then wrapped up the win with hitless ball for the final two innings. The contest ended after eight innings due to the tournament's run rule.

"Our pitching staff did a great job today," 18U National Team head coach Garye LaFevers said. "Jameson and Kyle kept getting us back in the dugout early. Jameson is overpowering when he mixes in his offspeed stuff. That makes him very tough to hit. You don't see that kind of pitching all the time."

Meanwhile, Team USA's offense netted 17 hits. Five of those hits came in a seven-run third inning, marking the third straight game the team has accomplished such an inning. The Americans sent 10 batters to the plate in the uprising. With one out and the bases loaded, Nick Castellanos knocked in the first run with a single off the center-field fence. Nicholas Delmonico followed with a two-run double to left-center. Manny Machado added a run-scoring single, and Garin Cecchini contributed an RBI grounder. Brian Ragira capped the frame with a two-run homer to center, his first and the team's third home run of the tourney.

"We had a good day at the plate today, but not as good as we are capable of having," LaFevers said. "But we are very happy where we are at this point."

Team USA had taken a 1-0 lead in its first at bat. After leadoff hitter Sean Coyle drew a walk, Bryce Harper moved him to third base on a double. Castellano then plated Coyle with a sacrifice fly to right. The team added a run in the seventh when Delmonico, who had doubled, scored on a wild pitch. Team USA tacked on its final five runs via five hits in the eighth. Ladson Montgomery crossed the plate on Harper's bases-loaded, double-play grounder while Castellanos drove in his third run of the game with a double, and Machado added a run-scoring double to highlight the inning.

Tony Wolters and Machado notched three hits apiece while Harper, Castellanos, Delmonico, and Montgomery each had a pair of hits for the 18U Team.

Next on tap for Team USA will be a 6:30 p.m. ET battle Monday night against Colombia (1-2). Colombia knocked off Argentina, 11-2, in Sunday's first game.