Today is the busiest day of the World Baseball Classic, with eight games taking place throughout the day. The first two games have already ended and the results are shown below. The big game is Team USA opening up their tournament. I posted the full schedule of games below.
Australia defeated China 12-2, ten-run ruling them in seven innings. Panama beat Italy 2-0. Neither Pirates pitcher on Italy saw action. Japan beat the Czech Republic 10-2 early this morning (Eastern time).
The Netherlands and Chinese Taipei featured Pirates on both sides. Tsung-Che Cheng went 4-for-9 in the first two games of the WBC, with RBI singles in each game, as well as hitting a triple. He went 1-for-3 with another RBI single today, as well as a sacrifice bunt and a walk in his team’s victory. Josh Palacios went 0-for-3, leaving him 1-for-9 in the tournament. Antwone Kelly pitched for the first time and retired the side in order during his only inning.
Today’s Remaining Games
All times are Eastern time
Nicaragua vs Puerto Rico 12 PM
Colombia vs Mexico 2:30 PM
Dominican Republic vs Venezuela 7 PM
USA vs Great Britain 9 PM
Czech Republic vs Korea 10 PM
Chinese Taipei vs Cuba 11 PM
Here’s a preview of the tournament, so you know which players/teams to follow. Here’s yesterday’s recap of WBC action.
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
Bednar’s velo was 96-97 tonite. GB could not hit it. He looked midseason form.
Off topic, but did y’all see what Skenes did last night?
6 IP 12 SO’s 1 ER in a win vs Stamford.
He’s definitely playing his way into consideration for being the top Pitcher in the draft, and possibly the top overall selection.