FROM USA BASEBALL
(PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia) – Team USA pitchers surrendered three home runs and German pitcher Tim Henkenjohann pitched 8.2 innings as Team Germany beat the U.S., 6-3, at the 2009 Enbridge Northern Pipeline World Baseball Challenge at Prince George Citizen Field.
USA starter T.J. Walz (Kansas) surrendered a solo home run to Jendrick Speer and a two-run shot to Simon Guerhing in the bottom of the fourth inning as Germany (2-1) went up 3-0 on the U.S.
Team USA (14-5; 1-1) cut its deficit to two when Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee State) scored on an errant throw to first base by shortstop Andreas Jansen, but it was the only offense the U.S. manage until the ninth inning.
Michael Franke added two more runs to the Germany lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two-run home run to right field off reliever Tony Zych (Louisville). Germany then plated its sixth and final run of the game on a balk by Trevor Bauer (UCLA) in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Yasmani Grandal (Miami) and Matt Newman (Arizona State) hit solo home runs in the top of the ninth inning to spark the U.S. offense but it could not overcome its deficit.
Walz (2-1) pitched three innings for team USA, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out two batters. Zych pitched 4.1 innings of relief and surrendered three runs before Bauer closed out the game.
Germany starter, and former member of the Minnesota Twins farm system, Tim Henkenjohann pitched 8.2 innings, allowing three runs and two strikeouts for the win. Martin Almstetter got the save.
Game three of the 2009 World Baseball Challenge for the U.S. will be against the Bahamas, Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at Citizen Field at 7:00 PM (10:00 PM ET). Asher Wojciechowski (The Citadel) will take the mound for Team USA.
