Bengochea, Howard Start In 7-2 Win Over Japan
June 23, 2001
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Coral Gables, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) — – Okinawa, Japan – The USA Baseball National Team (2-0) jumped out to an early lead an never looked back, as they defeated the Japanese Collegiate All-Stars 7-2 in the first game of the 30th Annual USA vs Japan Collegiate All-Star Series Saturday afternoon at Urazoe Citizens Park in Okinawa.
Sparked by a pre-game speech from legendary coach Rod Dedeaux, it was the first time that Team USA has won the opening game of this series in Japan since 1988, when the Americans were victorious 5-4 in 11 innings. Dedeaux threw out the ceremonial first pitch, following a moment of silence in honor of the men and women of both countries who gave their lives in World War II. Baseball on this island of Okinawa had never been played between the two countries, until Friday.
Team USA relief pitcher Bobby Browlie (RHP, So, Rutgers) was dominant in 5.2 innings behind starter Kiki Bengochea (RHP, So, Miami). Brownlie (2-0) did not allow a hit while fanning six, to earn the victory, his second in as many games.
Tulane Green Wave starters Michael Aubrey (OF, Fr, Tulane) and Anthony Giarratano (IF, Fr, Tulane) provided seven of the 10 American hits in the game to carry the Red, White and Blue offense.
Team USA took the lead early when Aubrey touched Japanese starter Nogisa Arakaki for a solo home run to right field with two outs in the top of the first inning, to make it 1-0.
Aubrey struck again in the third, when he drove home Javi Herrera (Fr, C, Tennessee) and Giarratano with a two-out, single up the middle to make it 3-0. Herrera and Giarratano had both singled to start the frame, and were moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Fuld (OF, Fr, Stanford).
Japan got to Bengochea in the bottom of the third when the American defense broke down a bit. Keiichi Hirano coaxed a one-out walk and advanced to third on Takashi Toritani’s infield single. He then scored on a throwing error by Nick Swisher (IF, So, Ohio State). After a hit by Shuichi Murada that put runners at the corners, Toritani scored on Herrera’s throwing error to second base, making the score 3-2.
Team USA knocked Arakaki out of the game in the fourth when they loaded the bases off him with an error, a walk, and another single by Giarratano. But reliever Ryuichi Furakawa got Fuld to immediately hit into a ground ball double play, getting Japan out of the jam.
Brownlie then relieved Bengochea with one out in the fourth and retired the final two hitters – after Bengochea had walked Hiroychi Hashimoto – to keep Team USA on top. Bengochea worked 3.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs on four hits while walking three, and took a no-decision. He has now thrown 23.1 innings with Team USA dating back to last summer, without allowing an earned run.
Jeremy Reed (OF, So, Long Beach State) led off the sixth with a walk, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by Japanese catcher Ryo Asai. He then scored on a single by Chris Snyder (DH, So, Houston) that made the score 4-2.
It stayed that way until the top of the ninth, when Reed connected for a three-run homer down the line off Japanese reliever Shinji Kodama.
Game Two of the Series will be on Sunday, also in Okinawa at 1:00 pm. Anthony Reyes (RHP, So, USC) will get the ball for the Americans.
Miami sophomore third baseman Kevin Howard started the game, but went 0-for-4 in the outing.
