On this date in USA Baseball history, Team USA moved to 3-0 in the Sydney Olympic Games with a 6-2 win over the Netherlands. Kurt Ainsworth got the start on the mound for Team USA in what he called the most important game of his life.
Brent Abernathy got Team USA started with a leadoff double and the rest of the American squad wasted no time in following suit. Brad Wilkerson put runners on the corners with a bunt and Ernie Young brought the pair home with a double of his own to left field, taking a 2-0 first inning lead.
Despite a bases-loaded inning in the bottom half of the first, Ainsworth was able to preserve the lead, allowing only one run and getting out of the inning with a force out and double play.
From there, the offense just clicked for Team USA. Young and Wilkerson added to the lead each with solo home runs in the third and sixth innings respectively and single runs sparked by Young in the seventh and eighth widened the gap to 6-2 for Team USA.
With the win, Team USA moved to 3-0 to tie Cuba for the best record in the Olympics.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| USA | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
| NED | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Win: K. Ainsworth Loss: R. Cordemans | Box Score |
September 19, 2000: it was the most important game of @TeamUSA starter Kurt Ainsworth's life and he didn't disappoint while the offense put on another show 💪🏼
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) September 19, 2020
📝: https://t.co/CXOYqN9HXv pic.twitter.com/TgoLr6Eg7y
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Ainsworth allowed only one run on five hits through 6 2/3 innings and recorded three strikeouts
QUOTABLES
- “We beat a good team. They beat us in the exhibition round, so it was important that we came back and won this one. We can't look past any team. We have to win every game, and it doesn't matter who we play.” Ernie Young (Baseball America, Miracle on Grass)
- “This was the best we've played as a team. We put everything together today, with power, timely hits and error-free baseball. That's important. Now we just have to keep doing it." Ernie Young (Baseball America, Miracle on Grass)
