Team USA remains unbeaten
The U.S. will take on Panama on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET in its final game before the second round.
Much of the pregame excitement Tuesday centered around the pitching matchup. Chris Archer, who less than two weeks ago was named the Cubs' Minor League Pitcher of the Year, took the mound against 2005 American League Cy Young Award winner Bartolo Colon.
The showdown was short-lived, however, as the U.S. chased Colon (1-1) in the third. The 37-year-old right-hander was tagged for six earned runs in 2 1/3 innings, allowing seven hits and a walk without striking out a batter. Archer was solid over four frames, giving up three earned on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Nick Hill (1-0) earned the win after yielding three hits over three shutout innings. In his second appearance of the tournament, the Mariners prospect struck out three and did not walk a batter. Anthony Carter (White Sox) and Tim Collins (Royals) combined on two scoreless innings to preserve the victory.
At the plate, the story again for the U.S. was one big inning as the Americans put up five runs in a game-changing third. Angels prospect Mike Trout got things started by singling to right field and advancing on an errant pickoff attempt by reliever Paulino Reynoso. Cord Phelps (Indians) also singled, driving in Trout, and moving up a base on the throw.
A flyout by Texas League MVP Mike Moustakas (Royals) pushed Phelps to third before Brad Eldred (Rockies) walked. Eric Hosmer (Royals) slapped an RBI single, Reds farmhand Todd Frazier kept things going with another walk to load the bases and Erik Kratz (Pirates) was hit on the hand to force in another run.
Dodgers Minor Leaguer Jamie Hoffmann popped out, but Chase d'Arnaud (Pirates) delivered a two-run single to center.
The inning was bookended by a two-run second and a one-run fourth, giving the U.S. plenty of offense to work with.
Trout upped his average to .600, good for second on the team behind Cubs prospect Brett Jackson (.667). He's also tied with Eldred for the team lead with 10 total bases. Hosmer led all U.S. hitters, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Former Major Leaguer Tony Batista was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Dominican Republic. He homered off Archer in the fourth.
ARCH ALLY: Archer pitched four solid innings for Team USA, limiting the Dominican Republic to three runs on four hits while striking out five. Archer, a top prospect in the Cubs system, was named the organization's Pitcher of the Year this past season and was presented with the award last month in Chicago.
COACHES CORNER: Former Major League manager Carlos Tosca is making his Team USA debut as third base coach. After serving as the third base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays, he was named manager and served in that capacity from 2002-04. Tosca also held the job as bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins.
CY NONE: Colon lasted only 2 1/3 innings for the Dominican Republic. He gave up six runs on seven hits and a walk. The two-time All-Star won 153 Major League games for five teams during a 13-year career.
HILL ON THE HILL: Hill pitched three innings of shutout relief to record the win. The West Point graduate scattered three hits and struck out three in his second appearance of the tournament.
HOS STAYS HOT: Hosmer went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Through four games, he's hitting .455 with six walks, five runs scored and two RBIs.