Grand Slam Special
	Olympic Games 2000

Compiled and Copyright © 2000 by Marco Stoovelaar

Olympic Games 2000 - Sydney, Australia

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USA shuts out South Korea
SYDNEY (Australia) - Doug Mientkiewicz hit a full-count, two-out grand slam homerun to power USA to a 4-0 shutout vs. South Korea to close the fourth day of baseball competition. The USA is now the only unbeaten team. Mientkiewicz, who played in the Major League for the Minnesota Twins, went 3-for-4 in the game. After seven scoreless innings, Mike Neill hit a one-out single in the eighth off of reliever Jil-Woo Song, who had just entered the game, and Ernie Young walked. Pil-Jung Jin took over the pitching and issued a two-out walk to Mike Kinkade, before facing Doug Mientkiewicz, who then connected for his grand slam.
Line Score
(September 20)

Australia beats South Africa
SYDNEY (Australia) - Host country Australia won its second game, defeating South Africa 10-4, but was leading only 5-3 after seven innings. South Africa's Jason Cook went 2-for-4, including a homerun, had three RBI's and scored once. In the eighth, Australia scored four runs and added one in the ninth. South Africa only managed to score only one additional run. Australia had ten hits, only two more then South Africa. Australia's Paul Gonzalez hit his second homerun of the tournament.
Line Score
(September 20)

SUPER SENSATION AS DUTCH BEAT CUBA!!!
'Bam Bam' doubles Dutch to victory! Brauckmiller in command!
SYDNEY (Australia) - In a historic first, The Netherlands defeated reigning Olympic and world champion Cuba on Wednesday-morning in a major upset on the fourth day of the Olympic baseball tournament. It was the first-ever loss for Cuba in Olympic competition after 21 consecutive victories on the Olympics of 1992 in Barcelona (Spain) and 1996 in Atlanta (USA). It also was the first-ever victory for the Dutch team vs. the Cuban national team after 21 consecutive losses. On Sunday, the Dutch had another upset victory, winning 6-4 vs. host Australia in the first game for both countries.
Hensley 'Bam Bam' Meulens (pictured left), who played in the Major League for the New York Yankees, delivered the game-winner in the third and pitcher Ken Brauckmiller (pictured right) was commanding and held the Cubans to seven hits in eight-plus innings. At first, it looked like Cuba was en route to another victory when Omar Linares hit a two-out, solo-homerun in the first inning and Orestes Kindelan and Antonio Pacheco connected for back-to-back singles. After this hardhitting power trio had reached base, Ken Brauckmiller settled down and allowed only four hits in the next seven innings, being backed by fine defensive play.
After the opening-homerun, the Dutch attacked decisively in the third inning. Lead-off batter Dirk van 't Klooster walked, then Johnny Balentina singled. On the next play, veteran Cuban third baseman Omar Linares committed an error on a sacrifice bunt by Evert-Jan 't Hoen, loading up the bases. Linares did a good job on the next play, throwing out Van 't Klooster at home on a force play as Rikkert Faneyte reached base and kept the bases loaded. Ralph Milliard, who's an active pro in the San Diego Padres-organization, then singled in the tying run, which led to the departure of Cuban starter Norge Luis Vera. Reliever Maels Rodriguez struckout the first batter he faced, Sharnol Adriana, before dealing with Hensley Meulens. The 33-year old fifteen-year pro, who played in the highest leagues in the USA, Japan and this season in Mexico, drove the ball deep into left field to clear the bases with a three-run double, giving the Dutch a 4-1 lead. And that was all Brauckmiller needed, as he continued to pitch impressively. Rodriguez also finished good, giving only two additional hits in the next five-plus innings. The Cubans threatened again in the top of the ninth, when lead-off hitter Miguel Caldes reached second base on a throwing error by third baseman and active pro (Anaheim Angels-organization) Evert-Jan 't Hoen. With two balls on next batter Juan Manrique, Dutch manager Pat Murphy brought in center fielder Rikkert Faneyte to close the game. Faneyte walked Manrique. Pinch-hitter Gabriel Pierre then hit a force play grounder to short stop Robert Eenhoorn, putting runners on first and third. Another pinch-hitter, Javier Mendes, also hit a force-play grounder, put enabled Miguel Caldes to score Cuba's second run. Now, with a runner at first base, Yobal Dueñas did the same. He grounded to third baseman Reily Legito, who just had entered the game, forcing runner Mendez at second base and ending a historic game, resulting in the first Olympic loss for Cuba. ,,This is a dream come true. The most beautiful day in my career'', Brauckmiller reacted after the game.
Line Score
(September 20

Japan wins vs. Italy
SYDNEY (Australia) - Japan collected twelve hits off of three pitchers to beat hand Italy its third loss. Italy took a 1-0 lead in the first when Claudio Liverziani scored, but Japan tied the score in the second when Yukio Tanaka homered. Tanaka went 3-for-5 in the game and scored three runs. With Japan leading only 2-1, the Asians took a more comfortable lead when they scored twice in the fifth on a two-run double by Norihiro Nakamura.
Line Score
(September 19)

Brauckmiller probable starter vs. Cuba
SYDNEY (Australia) - Ken Brauckmiller (pictured left) will be the probable starting pitcher vs. Cuba for The Netherlands. The assignment has not yet been officially confirmed.
When Brauckmiller takes the mound, it will be Brauckmiller's 32ns game for the Dutch national team. The 34-year old Brauckmiller was born and raised in the USA, but lives in The Netherlands since 1989. The righthanded pitcher, who also plays first base and is used as a designated hitter or pinch-hitter, plays for Dutch champion Neptunus.
(September 19)

Korea scares Cuba
SYDNEY (Australia) - South Korea gave reigning Olympic and world champion Cuba a scare on Monday, leading 4-0 when the sixth inning started. But the always hardhitting Cubans, who were kept to only two hits in the first five innings, once again came-from-behind and finally won the game 6-5. In the sixth, Cuba scored five runs to take a 5-4 lead, on a two-run double by veteran Antonio Pacheco and a two-out, two-run single by Manuel Dueñas. Korea tied the game in the seventh on a homerun by Jae-Hong Park. In the eighth, however, Cuba scored again as pinch-hitter Juan Manrique homered to take a definitive lead. Cuba had only seven hits, but two were doubles by Antonio Pacheco and Oscar Macias and one the decisive homerun by Juan Manrique.
Line Score
(September 19)

USA outscores Dutch
SYDNEY (Australia) - Both The Netherlands as the USA had eight hits, but Ernie Young delivered two very important ones. In the first inning, Young hit a two-run double after lead-off hitter Brent Abernathy had doubled and moved to second on a bouncing bunt-hit by Brad Wilkerson. In the bottom first, The Netherlands scored once. Rikkert Faneyte opened with a single, Ralph Milliard also singled and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. After Sharnol Adriana walked, a force play-grounder by Hensley Meulens resulted in the first Dutch run. In the third, Young probably had the decisive hit of the game, when he hit a solo-homerun, to give the USA another two-run lead. The Dutch didn't get much runscoring opportunities again by pitcher Kurt Ainsworth, but the USA added more runs later in the game. A double by Doug Mientkiewicz scored a run inn the sixth and Brad Wilkerson homered in the seventh. He was the first batter facing Ferenc Jongejan, who had just relieved starter Rob Cordemans. Jongejan started by picking off runner Brent Abernathy and resulted in USA-manager Tom Lasorda arguing Jongejan's pick-off move with first base umpire Katsuhito Koyama. In the next inning, the USA scored again to make it 6-1. In the bottom eighth, Sharnol Adriana hit a two-out homerun, his second of the tournament, to make the score 6-2. Then in, the ninth, Dirk van 't Klooster tripled, but was left stranded on third base.
Line Score
(September 19)

Another victory for Japan
SYDNEY (Australia) - Japan won its second consecutive game, beating host country Australia, 7-3 on ten hits. Yoshinori Okihara went 4-for-5 in the game, including a homerun, scored three runs and had four RBI's. David Nilsson homered for Australia, to help Australia take a 3-1 lead in the third inning. Japan then tied the score in the fifth and rallied for four runs in the sixth inning.
Line Score
(September 19)

First victory for Italy
SYDNEY (Australia) - Italy won its first game, shutting out South Africa 13-0, to open the third day of the Olympic baseball tournament. Italy got ten hits, including a sixth inning grand slam homerun by Francesco Casolari, who collected six RBI's. Alberto D'Auria also homered and Chris Madonna added three RBI's.
Line Score
(September 19)

Cordemans to start vs. USA
SYDNEY (Australia) - Manager Pat Murphy has named 25-year old righthander Rob Cordemans (pictured left) as the starting pitcher for the game against the USA on Tuesday.
The game will be the 22nd official game for Cordemans, who is a player for Dutch national champion Neptunus.
A starter for the game vs. Cuba on Wednesday has not yet been announced.
(September 18)

Big loss for Dutch
SYDNEY (Australia) - After beating Australia in the opener, The Netherlands suffered a big loss vs. Japan, which won 10-2 on Monday. After Japan opened the score in the first on a double by hardhitting powerhitter Norihiro Nakamura, the Dutch came alongside in the second when Dirk van 't Klooster (pictured right) delivered a runscoring single, on which Percy Isenia scored. In the third, however, Japan re-took the lead, scoring three runs, two on a single by catcher Fumihiro Suzuki. In the fourth, Japan added three more runs. Shortly after Tomohiro Iizuka reached base on an infield-hit, Norihiro Nakamura hit a towering two-run homerun. Nakamura, who plays for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in the Japanese Major League, leads the Pacific League with 25 homeruns and 73 RBI's. The next hitter, Nobuhiko Matsunaka, also homered to make it 7-1. In the mean time, Yuji Yoshimi dominated as pitcher, striking out nine in five innings, allowing only three hits. In the seventh, Dirk van 't Klooster also accounted for the second run, when he hit a solo-homerun. That was the last run the Japanese pitchers allowed. Offensively, Japan added three more runs at the end of the game. Nobuhiko Matsunaka, who plays professionally for the Fukuoka Daei Hawks, went 4-for-5 in the game with two RBI's, Nakamura had three RBI's.
Line Score
(September 18)

USA wins easy vs. South Africa
SYDNEY (Australia) - South Africa scored its first Olympic run and took a 1-0 lead in the first inning vs. USA, but finally lossed the game, 11-1. Ian Holness connected for South Africa's first Olympic hit and later scored on a hit by Nick Dempsey. The USA had nine hits, including the second homerun by Mike Neill. Jon Cotton went 2-for-4 and contributed with five RBI's. USA-pitcher Jon Rauch struckout thirteen batters, one shy of the Olympic record.
Line Score
(September 18)

Australia downs Korea
SYDNEY (Australia) - Australia came from behind to defeat South Korea, 5-3. In the fourth, Korea took a 3-2 lead when Han-Soo Kim and Byung-Kyu Lee singled. In the seventh, David Nilsson doubled in the tying run. Australia took over the lead in the eighth when two runners scored on a double by Glenn Reeves.
Line Score
(September 18)

Italy beaten by Cuba
SYDNEY (Australia) - On the second day of baseball competition, Cuba started by beating Italy, 13-5. Trailing 3-0, Italy scored five runs in the third inning to take a 5-3 lead, forcing a pitching change. Reliever José Ibar then struckout eight and allowed only two hits in the next five-plus innings. The Italian lead lasted only moments. In the home third, Cuba scored two runs to tie the game, thyen added two runs in the fourth and six in a productive fifth inning. Cuba had 17 hits, including three homeruns by Yobal Dueñas, Orestes Kindelan and Oscar Macias. The three power hitters each had three hits, including a double and homerun. Dueñas had three RBI's and scored three.
Line Score
(September 18)

Stewart starts vs. Japan
SYDNEY (Australia) - Dutch manager Pat Murphy has named Orlando Stewart (pictured left) as starting pitcher in Game Two for the Dutch vs. Japan on Monday.
The 34-year old righthander, who played for Sparta/Feyenoord this season and will be a member of ADO next year, pitched the final game of last years European Championship, shutting out Italy, 3-0. It will be Stewart's eleventh official appearance for the Dutch national team.
(September 17)

Netherlands upset Australia
SYDNEY (Australia) - Sharnol Adriana (left) hit a three-run homerun in the third and Jurriaan Lobbezoo (upper right) pitched seven-plus strong innings, as The Netherlands upset Australia, 6-4 in their first game of the Olympic baseball tournament. After Paul Gonzalez had homered in the second to give Australia the lead, Dirk van 't Klooster opened the Dutch third, reaching base on an error by third baseman Paul Gonzalez. With one out, Rikkert Faneyte walked, but was forced out at second on a grounder by Ralph Milliard, moving Van 't Klooster to third. Next batter, Sharnol Adriana then hit a three-run homerun. Hensley 'Bam Bam' Meulens and Percy Isenia followed with back-to-back doubles to make it 4-1. In the sixth, Dirk van 't Klooster hit an RBI-single, as did Rikkert Faneyte to improve the lead to 6-1.
Australia got its first scoring opportunities again in the home sixth. Dave Nilsson delivered a two-run single to make it 6-3. A homerun by Glenn Reeves in the eighth made it 6-4 and led to the departure of Lobbezoo. Reliever Ferenc Jongejan (bottom right) had a strong appearance, striking out the next two batters. In the ninth, the side was retired, earning Jongejan a save and the Dutch a victory to start the tournament.
Line Score
(September 17)

Korea beats Italy
SYDNEY (Australia) - South Korea collected eleven hits to beat Italy 10-2 on Sunday. Trailing 3-0, Italy scored its first run in the third when Claudio Liverziani and scored on a hit by David Sheldon. In the fourth, with the Koreans leading 4-1, Daniel Di Pace homered to make it 4-2. In the seventh and eighth however, Korea added six more runs to take a definitive lead. Italy used five pitchers, with starter Daniel Newman taking the loss.
Line Score
(September 17)

USA wins in extra innings
SYDNEY (Australia) - A two-run homerun by Mike Neill in the 13th inning gave USA a 4-2 victory over Japan in its first game of the tournament. Ryan Franklin pitched the final four innings in relief and gave up no hits to earn the victory. The game had a scoreless tie for six innings, before USA scored its first two runs in the seventh. Then, in the eighth, Japan came back with a run and tied the game in the ninth, forcing extra innings. Finally, in the 13th, Neill hit the game-winning homerun. USA had ten hits, two each by Mike Kinkade, Brent Abernathy, Doug Mientkiewicz and Mike Neill. Japanese starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, a nineteen year old pitching sensation, who plays for the Seibu Lions, threw ten innings, giving up eight hits and striking out five.
Line Score
(September 17)

Cuba wins opener
SYDNEY (Australia) - Reigning Olympic champion Cuba started the Olympic tournament on Sunday with a comfortable 16-0 victory vs. South Africa. Three Cuban pitchers combined on a No-Hitter, as starter Norge Luis Vera struckout five in five innings to earn the victory. The hardhitting Cubans had 18 hits against three South African pitchers, including four by Miquel Caldes, who went 4-for-5 and scored three runs. Antonio Pacheco went 3-for-3, scored two runs and had 3 RBI's, while Omar Linares had two hits and three runs. Antonio Scull added three RBI's. After scoring three runs in nthe first inning, Cuba had a productive fourth and fifth inning in which the team scored five and six runs respectively. For South Africa is was their Olympic debut. The champion of the African continent qualified for the Olympics after winning a play-off series vs. Guam, the champion of Oceania, last year. Cuba won the Gold Medal in both Atlanta (1996) and Barcelona (1992).
Line Score
(September 17)

Starting pitchers announced
SYDNEY (Australia) - Lefthander Jurriaan Lobbezoo (pictured left) has been named by manager Pat Murphy as the starting pitcher for The Netherlands in their first Olympic baseball-game vs. host Australia.
It will be Lobbezoo's 21st official game for the Dutch national team. Lobbezoo, 23, is a player of HCAW in Bussum and last week started and pitched four innings vs. the USA in the fourth and last exhibition game of the Dutch team, which was won 4-3. Taking the mound for Australia is 28-year old righthander Shayne Bennett (pictured right), who plays for the Ottawa Lynx, the triple-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos. Bennett also pitched for the Expos in the Major League.
Manager Silvano Ambrosioni of Italy also named his starting pitcher for his first game. That will be lefthander Daniel Newman. Italy will play against Korea on Sunday-evening.
(September 16)

Ton Bodaan assigned to opener
SYDNEY (Australia) - Dutch veteran umpire Ton Bodaan (pictured left) has been assigned to officiate in the first game of this years Olympic baseball tournament. Ton Bodaan will be the First Base Umpire of Sunday morning's game between Cuba and South Africa. Behind Home Plate will be Neil Poulton (Australia), on Second Base is Robert Bellerose (Canada) and on Third Base Myung-Hoon Yoon (Korea).
Assigned to the first game of The Netherlands, which will meet host Australia at Homebush Baseball Stadium, are Liang-Kuei Hsieh (Chinese Taipei) behind home plate, Carlos Rey (Puerto Rico) at first base, Gustavo Rodríguez (USA) at second base and Bernaldo Contreras (Dominican Republic) at third base.
Jan Esselman, the Dutch member of the Technical Committee has no assignment on the first day of the baseball tournament.
(September 16)

Baseball Recaps September 22 - 24
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