Olympic Preliminaries, Thursday Aug 14

United States 7, Netherlands 0
US pitcher Stephen Strasburg—he of the 23 strikeout performance against Utah earlier this year–pitched seven innings of one-hit ball and struck out eleven Dutch. Matt LaPorta crushed a three-run bomb; Matt Brown went yard as well. Meanwhile, the Netherland National Team continues to struggle. Their lone hit came on an Adriana Shairnol single in the seventh. That’s eighteen scoreless innings and counting now for the Dutch. Boxscore.


Korea vs. China
Postponed—rain out. Rescheduled for Sunday, Aug. 17.


Cuba 7, Canada 6
Cuba busted out for four runs in the sixth inning on two-run homers by Alexandra Malleta and the red-hot Alfredo Despaigne. Canadian starter Brooks McNiven lasted only two innings before being lifted for Jonathan Lockwood, who took the loss. We knew the starting rotation was going to be a problem for Canada, and their lack of pitching depth really showed itself here. Canuck right fielder Michael Saunders went yard again and left fielder Nick Welgarz went 4-for-4 with two homeruns and three RBI. Relief pitcher Vicyohandry Odelin notched the victory for Cuba, pitching 2 1/3, allowing one run, and striking out three. Boxscore.


Japan 6, Chinese Taipei 1
This heated Eastern rivalry was all Japan, as they cruised to victory behind starter Hideaki Wakui who went six innings, allowed one run and struck out six. Shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI and a double. Taiwan managed only four hits, two each by Cheng-Min Peng and Chih-Hsien Chiang. Chiang drove in Peng for Taiwan’s only run. Koji Uehera finished the game for Japan. Although his Olympic team selection was somewhat controversial, he had no trouble here, pitching one inning, striking out one, and allowing no baserunners. Boxscore.