| Scoreboard/ResultsAfter Team USA failed to hold a three-run lead in the top of the ninth, LaHair blasted a solo home run against Venezuelan reliever Horacio Estrada that traveled an estimated 450 feet out of Nelson Fernandez Stadium. LaHair's first homer of the tournament sent the game into extra innings.
Mike Bascik came out of the Team USA bullpen and threw a perfect 10th inning before loading the bases with two outs in the top of the 11th. After hitting Venezuelan designated hitter Rene Reyes with a pitch to force in the go-ahead run, Bascik allowed a two-run double to the next batter, catcher Rene Pinto. The three-run deficit was too much for Team USA to overcome in the bottom of the 11th as Jorge Teran closed out the victory for Venezuela.
Jose Aponte got the Venezuelans off to a quick start when he lead off the game with a solo homer off Team USA starter Kevin Slowey. It would be the only run Slowey would allow until the fifth inning.
The 1-0 lead held up until the bottom of the third as Team USA grabbed the lead after Skip Schumaker ripped a two-run triple, scoring Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Kurt Suzuki, who reached on a hit-by-pitch and single, respectively. Bobby Hill pushed the lead to 3-1 with an RBI single, plating Schumaker. As Hill reached first, Venezuela pitcher Felix Arellan began yelling at Hill and Team USA first base coach Reggie Smith as he accused Hill of stealing signs. A short argument ensued before both sides were separated and play was resumed.
Aponte got to Slowey again in the fifth as he hit a two-run homer, his second of the game, off the U.S. hurler. The very next batter, Willian Vasquez, also connected off Slowey and Venezuela reclaimed the lead, 4-3.
Team USA quickly took the advantage right back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Hill singled home Suzuki, who had doubled, and then Mark Reynolds plated another with a fielder's choice. Billy Butler closed the scoring in the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Venenzuela chipped away at a 7-4 lead with a run in the eighth off reliever Jeff Farnsworth before Suzuki pushed it back to 8-5 with a solo homer in the bottom half of the inning. It was Suzuki's second homer of the tournament.
U.S. reliever Lee Gronkiewicz took the mound in the top of the ninth with that three-run advantage. He proceeded to walk the first batter and then was replaced by closer Henry Owens. After a pair of walks, a single and a double, Venezuela had come all the way back to grab a 9-8 lead and setting the stage for LaHair's heroics in the bottom of the ninth.
Hill finished the game with four hits and three RBIs while Suzuki had three hits and three runs scored. Schumaker scored two more runs and has crossed the plate 11 times in five pool play games.
Team USA, the top seed in its pool, is off on Thursday and is scheduled to begin play in the second round on Friday as it takes on the Dominican Republic at Latino Americano Stadium in Havana.
NOTES: Venezuelan manager Henry Campos was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. ... Campos was replaced by coach Luis Calderon. ... Team USA pitchers struck out 15 Venezuelan batters in the game. ... Seven of the 12 pitchers on the Team USA roster saw action in the game. ... The game took four hours, 27 minutes to play. ... Shortstop Brandon Wood is batting has only one hit in 21 tournament at-bats. ... Team USA has outscored its opponents 46-27 in pool play. ... U.S. pitchers have allowed only 13 walks over 47 innings.
