FORT MYERS, Fla. – Blake Mitchell (Sinton, Texas) had RBI hits in the first two innings and the U.S. held off a late rally to knock off Chinese Taipei, 6-5, on Monday afternoon at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida.
Team USA is now 2-0 in exhibition action as it continues to gear up for the XXX World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup.
Mitchell’s first run-scoring hit came in Team USA’s four-run first inning when he split the gap in left-center field with a double to bring home Aidan Miller (Trinity, Fla.). That duo created another run in the second inning when Miller walked and scored on Mitchell’s second RBI hit in as many innings, an infield knock towards the middle of the diamond to put the U.S. up by five.
Team USA was then able to fend off a late push by Chinese Taipei – including a three-run fifth inning – to come out on top and remain unbeaten in exhibition play.
Mitchell’s two-hit day was one of two multi-hit performances for Team USA in the win. Camden Kozeal (Omaha, Neb.) also delivered two hits, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and run scored. Max Clark (Franklin, Ind.) and Bryce Eldridge (Vienna, Va.) were the other two members of Team USA to collect a hit in the game, while Miller drew a pair of walks and scored twice.
Starting pitcher Christian Rodriguez (Coral Gables, Fla.) pitched two innings for the stars and stripes and allowed one unearned run on two hits. Cameron Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md.) entered in relief and fired two hitless frames to earn the win, striking out four Chinese Taipei hitters before Adam Hachman (Wentzville, Mo.) and Blake Dickerson (Virginia Beach, Va.) combined to pitch the final three innings. Shu Chih Hao suffered the loss for Chinese Taipei after permitting six runs (five earned) in two innings pitched.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After reaching on a fielder’s choice, Kendall George scored on Camden Kozeal’s RBI single to get the U.S. offense rolling in the first.
- Blake Mitchell and Bryce Eldridge doubled on consecutive pitches to extend Team USA’s lead to three before Eldridge scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-0 in the opening inning.
- Chinese Taipei’s Wang Nian Hao trimmed his team’s deficit to three in the second when he singled and scored on a fielder’s choice.
- Team USA scored twice in the bottom of the second to extend its lead to five. RJ Hamilton was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on a passed ball, and Blake Mitchell singled to drive in Aidan Miller for his second RBI hit of the game.
- Cameron Johnson held Chinese Taipei’s offense at bay in the middle part of the game, throwing the third and fourth innings and allowing just one baserunner to keep the U.S. lead at 6-1.
- Chinese Taipei got RBI hits from Lin Chia Wei and Wang Nian Hao in a three-run fifth inning to trim Team USA’s lead to 6-4.
- With two outs in the sixth and the tying runners in scoring position, Adam Hachman got a crucial strikeout to keep the U.S. in front by two.
- Chinese Taipei strung together another rally in the seventh to cut its deficit to one, but Blake Dickerson thwarted the threat by inducing a game-ending pop up to secure the 6-5 victory.
OF NOTE
- Bryce Eldridge had another hit and RBI and is batting .667 (4-for-6) with a team-high six RBIs through two exhibition games.
- With two more walks drawn in the win, Aidan Miller now owns a .667 on-base percentage. He has been hit by two pitches and drawn two walks in six plate appearances.
- Cameron Johnson was unhittable in his two innings on the mound, allowing just one baserunner to reach base via a walk.
- Team USA is batting .362 (21-for-58) as a team in exhibition play, outscoring opponents 25-6.
- The U.S. stole three bases in the victory and is now a perfect 8-for-8 in that category through two exhibition games. Kendall George had two stolen bases to lead the team.
- The stars and stripes are now 2-0 in exhibition play with wins over Canada and Chinese Taipei.
ON DECK
Team USA finishes exhibition play on Tuesday, September 6, taking on Australia. The game is set for a 5:00 p.m. ET first pitch from the Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida.
SOCIAL MEDIA
To follow along with all the action with the 18U National Team, be sure to follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter and @USABaseball on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
