June2015

Josh Johnson home run secures 6-4 win over the Dominican Republic at WBSC Men's World Championship

June 27, 2015

Saskatoon, SK

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2015

Josh Johnson home run secures 6-4 win over the Dominican Republic at WBSC Men's World Championship

Box Score

 

SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Canada  - With the help of a Josh Johnson (El Paso, Texas) home run, Team USA rallied to a 6-4 win over the Dominican Republic in their second game of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men's World Championship in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.  Trailing by one run in the top of the fifth inning, Johnson connected for a three-run long ball to keep the Men's National Team (MNT) undefeated at the WBSC Men's World Championship with a 2-0 record. 

 

Click here for full coverage from the WBSC Men's World Championship

 

"Going into the game we knew it was going to be a tough one," said Head Coach Denny Bruckert (Gillespie, Ill).  "The Dominican Republic has speed throughout their lineup and a couple guys that can hit it out. I thought Gerald threw well until they picked up his change in the fourth inning.  I'm proud of our guys because after they took the lead, Josh came back with a big homerun and Mancha closed the door. Now we're setting our sights on Japan. We will have some coaching meetings to prepare and we will be ready to go at six o'clock."

 

Team USA struck first in the top of the third inning after Pat Sagdal (Richland, Wash.) connected for a two-out triple to put the first U.S. runner in scoring position.  A walk to Chris Miljavic (Easton, Mo.) put runners on the corner before a wild pitch plated Sagdal to give Team USA an early 1-0 lead.

 

Gerald Muizelaar (Grand Forks, N.D.) got the start in the circle for the U.S. and kept the Dominican Republic off the board through three complete innings, allowing just one hit while retiring four batters via strikeout.  The U.S. would add to their lead in the top of the fourth inning after Matt Palazzo (Pleasant Hill, Iowa) got a leadoff walk and advanced to second base following an error off a bunt by Chase Turner (San Diego, Calif.).  With two runners on base, Kris Bogach (Huguenot, N.J.) connected for a single to center field to plate Palazzo.  A wild pitch by the Dominican Republic's starter Yennier Volquez also brought Turner home to push the Red, White and Blue's lead to 3-0.

 

The Dominican Republic responded in the bottom of the frame with the help of four hits.  A single from Wilton Villafana plated the first run for the Dominican Republic before a triple cleared the bases to score an additional two runs to tie the game up at three apiece.  A single from Engel Santana changed the tide of the game to give the Dominican Republic a 4-3 lead, prompting a pitching change for Team USA as Tony Mancha (Las Cruces, N.M.) entered the game in relief for Muizelaar.  Mancha came up big for the U.S., striking out the next batter to end the rally.

 

The Dominican Republic's lead did not last long as Team USA responded in style in the top of the fifth inning.  With two outs, Derrick Zechman (Watsontown, Pa.) singled and advanced to second on a walk to Palazzo.  On a 1-1 count, Johnson sent one over the right field fence to clear the bases and regain the lead for Team USA.

 

"I felt like we had a lot of people contribute again today," said Josh Johnson.  "When they took the lead we continued to battle and it was exactly what we needed." 

 

The 6-4, U.S. lead would hold throughout the remainder of the game as Mancha shut down the Dominican Republic from the circle.  Holding the batters hitless over three and one-third complete innings, Mancha issued just one walk while striking out four batters to earn the win.  Muizelaar finished the game with three and two-third innings with five hits, one walk, four strikeouts and four runs. 

 

Melvin Batista took the loss for the Dominican Republic, giving up three runs and three hits while starter Yennier Volquez finished the game with three hits and three runs.

 

Up next for the U.S. is a 7 p.m. CT matchup against Japan.  Fans at home can follow along with live stats and live streaming for the entire WBSC Men's World Championship at www.ASAUSASoftball.com. 

 

About ASA/USA Softball


Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million.  ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit http://www.asausasoftball.com/.

 

About the World Baseball Softball Confederation

Headquartered in the Olympic Capital city of Lausanne, Switzerland, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) was established in April 2013 and granted recognition as the sole competent authority in baseball and softball by the International Olympic Committee at the 125th IOC Session in September 2013. The WBSC represents a united baseball/softball sports movement that encompasses over 65 million athletes worldwide. The WBSC governs all international competitions involving any of the National Teams of its 141 National Federation members.  The WBSC oversees the Softball World Championships, The Premier 12, the World Baseball Classic, and the U12, U15, U18, U21 and Women's Baseball World Cups.  For further information, please go to www.WBSC.co or follow the WBSC on Twitter at @WBSC.

 

 

Codi Warren

 

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball

Office 405.425.3431 | Cell 405. 420. 2817

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