THUNDER BAY, Canada - Playing in a steady rain for most of the game, the USA Baseball 18U National Team rode the left arm of Matthew Liberatore to victory on Sunday as he struck out 12 batters over six innings in a rain-shortened 6-0 triumph (6 innings) over Mexico at the 2017 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-18 Baseball World Cup.
The three-time defending World Cup champions, Team USA improves to 3-0 in the tournament and is currently the only undefeated team in Group B. Korea has also won all three of its games in Group A and both teams have now clinched spots in the Super Round.
Liberatore was dominant from the get-go, striking out the side in the top of the first and never looking back. He would accomplish that feat twice more in his six innings of work, during which he yielded just one hit and did not allow a runner past first base.
Through the first three games of the WBSC U-18 World Cup, the U.S. pitching staff has a combined ERA of 0.39, having allowed just one run on five hits over 23.0 innings. Seven pitchers have combined to strike out 37 batters while walking just nine. Opposing hitters are batting just .071 thus far in the competition.
In Sundays' contest, the U.S. got on the board in the first thanks to an unearned run after an error by the Mexico shortstop.
The red, white, and blue, tacked on two more in the fourth. After loading the bases with nobody out, RBIs from Mike Siani (Glenside, Pa.) and Carter Young (Selah, Wash.) pushed the U.S. lead to 3-0.
With raining pouring down, a bases-loaded wild pitch and a two-run throwing error put a three-spot up on the board for Team USA shortly before the game was halted. The two teams waited over an hour with little sign of the rain dissipating before the game was called.
Team USA is the three-time defending World Cup champion and is looking to become the second country to win four-straight gold medals in the tournament. The U.S. will take on South Africa at 2 p.m. ET on Monday at Baseball Central.
Continue to follow @USABaseball18U on Twitter and visit USABaseball.com for the most up-to-date news about the 18U National Team.
QUOTES
USA Baseball 18U National Team Manager Andy Stankiewicz
(On Matthew Liberatore)
"He was commanding his fastball. I don't think he was as sharp as he has been typically but I will kind of chalk that up to him not having as much action as he usually does. The bottom line is getting outs and that is what he has done. His changeup was working well, he was commanding his fastball, and he threw a couple of nice breaking balls. That's what we need out of him."
(On the weather affecting the team's pitching)
"I think we are still in a good spot. We've lined it up pretty good and we feel like we have gotten our guys some work. We still have two more games in pool play so it shouldn't be an issue getting the other guys some work. That can sometimes be difficult. Weather sure has been an issue but the guys have responded well."
(On the offense capitalizing on opportunities)
"Our guys are starting to realize that we have to put the ball in play. We cut down on the strikeouts today which was good to see. We still have to get better and commit to contact. We saw some good things. There was a nice bunt by (Brice) Turang to load the bases up. He has to know that has to be part of his game, putting pressure on the defense. He is so skilled. Alek Thomas got a nice little lick with a line drive back up the middle off a lefty, which is good. Anytime these guys can put some good AB's together it will help them gain some confidence. I would venture to say that we are going to continue to see a lot of left-handed pitching. If I was the opponent I would do that as well. Our guys have to understand that when they are throwing that left-handed breaking ball we have to see it up in the zone. It was better today, for sure, but we know that in order to do well down the road here we still have to get better."
(On advancing to the Super Round)
"That is the goal. It is kind of one step at a time so we knew we had to get to the Super Round. It is exciting. It is international baseball. There are a lot of different elements coming at you with the weather, sometimes umpires have different strike zones. It has been a quick, abbreviated look but I think the guys are starting to understand what it is going to take to be competitive down the stretch."
Starting Pitcher Matthew Liberatore
(On what was working for him)
"My fastball command was pretty good. I kept my curveball in my back pocket until about the fourth or fifth inning but it felt really good when I finally broke it out. My command of that was really good to."
(On playing for Team USA)
"For me there is no greater accomplishment than being able to represent your country doing what you love. It is a pretty cool feeling to go out there and pitch wearing USA across my chest and on my hat. I definitely want to win a gold medal."
