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U.S. Squad Avoids Exit

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 16, 2009

MIAMI - Baseball looked more like America's national pastime Sunday night.

Team USA avoided elimination from the World Baseball Classic, beating the Netherlands 9-3 to ease the sting of a drubbing endured against Puerto Rico the night before.
Jimmy Rollins drove in four runs with a homer, triple and sacrifice fly, and Team USA newcomer Brian Roberts went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs. Roy Oswalt pitched four scoreless innings, then six relievers completed a 12-hitter.
Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones will miss the rest of the World Baseball Classic because of a strain in his right side that has bothered him for a week. Jones, who was 0-for-10 with six strikeouts in the WBC, was scratched from Sunday's game.

In another game Sunday, Daisuke Matsuzaka held Cuba to five singles in six innings to lead Japan to a 6-0 win.

BRAVES: Atlanta released right-handed reliever Phil Stockman. The 6-foot-8 Aussie put up some impressive numbers during his tenure with the Braves, but wildness and persistent injuries plagued his development.

DODGERS: Manny Ramirez aggravated his sore left hamstring while playing the outfield Sunday against Colorado while chasing a ball in the fourth inning. He said he didn't know if the injury was severe enough that it would have kept him out of a regular-season game.

INDIANS: Cleveland cut veteran right-hander Tomo Ohka and left-handers Ryan Edell and Rich Rundles.

Also, Adam Miller, who came to spring training seeking a spot in the Cleveland bullpen, will have his right middle finger examined by a doctor today.

METS: Outfielder Angel Pagan is planning to return to the field quickly after another disappointing injury.

Pagan had arthroscopic surgery Wednesday to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. The Mets estimate Pagan will be out for six to eight weeks but he feels he is on a faster track than that.

ORIOLES: The team has shut down right-hander Jim Johnson for at least a week so they can try to determine the cause of discomfort in his right shoulder.

PADRES: Relief pitcher Duaner Sanchez agreed to a minor-league contract Sunday, five days after he was released by the Mets.

RED SOX: Second baseman Dustin Pedroia on Sunday downplayed the injury that sent him home from Team USA at the World Baseball Classic with a message for fans: "Tell them to calm down. We'll handle this. We'll be all right."

Pedroia was examined Saturday night by the Red Sox's team medical director, Thomas Gill, and head trainer. The injury was initially thought to be to his left oblique, but Boston medical staff said it was a strained left abdominal.

Shortstop Julio Lugo is expected to have arthroscopic surgery on his knee Tuesday in Boston.

Left-hander Jon Lester finalized a $30 million, five-year contract Sunday, a deal that could be worth $42.75 million over six seasons if Boston exercises a club option for 2014.

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