June 23, 2003
Tucson, Ariz. -- Three Arizona State Baseball players opened the 2003 National Team Trials Monday night in Tucson, Ariz. Sophomore All-American shortstop Dustin Pedroia had two hits, and sophomore first baseman Jeff Larish and freshman outfielder Travis Buck each had one hit.
Jason Jaramillo (C, Fr., Oklahoma St.) went 3-for-4 and Seth Smith (OF, So., Mississippi) was 2-for-4 with two RBI as the USA Blue squad defeated USA White, 6-4 in the first scrimmage game of the 2003 USA Baseball National Team Trials Monday evening at Hi Corbett Field.
Both teams combined for at least one run per inning for five consecutive innings following a scoreless first by each squad. USA Blue starter Mike Pelfrey (RHP, Fr., Wichita State) earned the win in a predetermined split working four innings and allowing three runs on five hits with only one run earned. USA White starter Justin Verlander (RHP, So., Old Dominion) took the loss, working four innings and allowing four runs on five hits while striking out four.
Jeff Clement (C, Fr., USC), Michael Griffin (OF, So., Baylor) and Dustin Pedroia (IF, So., Arizona State) each had two hits to lead the USA White offense. USA White opened up a 1-0 lead in the second inning with an unearned run off Pelfrey. With one out and runners on first and second, Micah Owings (IF/RHP, Fr., Georgia Tech) knocked a ball to third base that got past Blue third baseman Ryan Braun (IF, Fr. Miami (Fla.)) scoring Taylor Teagarden (C, Fr., Texas).
Braun atoned for his mistake in the top half of the third inning with a RBI single that tied the game up at one. Braun's single drove in Tyler Greene (IF, Fr., Georgia Tech), who reached base on a single and advanced to second on a stolen base. USA White regained the lead in the bottom of the third. After a lead-off triple by Brent Lillibridge (OF, Fr., Washington), Clement knocked a RBI single to right field to score Lillibridge for a 2-1 White lead.
USA Blue took its first lead in the top of the fourth inning with three runs off Verlander. Mike Nickeas (C, So., Georgia Tech) doubled and scored a run and Jason Jaramillo (C, So. Oklahoma State) had his second hit of the game and scored as Blue gained a 3-2 lead. Travis Buck (OF, Fr., Arizona State) reached on a fielder's choice and scored the third run of the inning for Blue on a wild pitch.
USA White cut the deficit to one run in the bottom half of the fourth. A one-out single by Griffin (OF, So., Baylor) set the table for Clement, who belted a double to right center that was misplayed by right fielder Seth Smith allowing Griffin to score. USA Blue added on to the lead again in the fifth inning with one run off reliever Stephen Head (1B/LHP, Fr., Mississippi). Braun opened up with a walk, stole second and advanced on a wild pitch. An RBI groundout by Smith scored Braun to give Blue a 5-3 lead.
USA White again trim the lead down to one as Jeff Larish (IF, So., Arizona State) doubled and scored on a RBI single by Pedroia off of Blue reliever Justin Orenduff (RHP, So., Virginia Commonwealth). Orenduff allowed just one run and struck out four batters in two innings of relief work for USA Blue. USA Blue increased its lead to 6-4 in the top of the sixth inning as a RBI single by Smith scored Danny Figueroa (OF, So., Miami (Fla.).
Huston Street (RHP, So., Texas) and Steven Register (RHP, So., Auburn) each worked two scoreless innings of relief for the White and Blue squads.
The 2003 USA National Team Trials will continue on Tuesday with the second scrimmage beginning at 7 p.m. PT at Hi Corbett Field. The 2003 USA National Baseball Team will be selected on June 27 with the squad opening competition on July 2 vs. Japan at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.
USA Blue 6 USA White 4
AB R H RBI AB R H RBI
Patterson 3 0 0 1 Lillibridge 4 1 1 0
Figueroa 4 1 1 0 Griffin 4 1 2 0
Braun 4 1 1 1 Clement 5 0 2 1
Smith 4 0 2 2 Head 5 0 0 0
Nickeas 5 1 1 0 Teagarden 5 1 1 0
Jaramillo 4 1 3 0 Larish 2 1 1 0
Buck 2 1 1 0 Owings 4 0 1 0
Greene 3 1 1 0 Pedroia 4 0 2 1
IP H R ER BB SO IP H R ER BB SO
Pelfrey 4.0 5 3 1 2 2 Verlander 4.0 5 4 4 3 4
Orenduff 2.0 2 1 1 0 4 Head 2.0 3 2 1 2 2
Register 2.0 3 0 0 0 3 Street 2.0 2 0 0 2 3