Redmond holds Germany down

USA beats Germany 9-1 on Friday night

After the surprise extra inning loss against Venezuela on Thursday, Team USA came back on Friday and beat host Germany to get into the win column. They won by a final score of 9-1 in front of 9,600 people at the Armin Wolf Arena. Starting pitcher Todd Redmond was perfect through 6 2/3 innings until an infield single by Dominik Wulf broke up the no-hit bid. Homeruns by Ike Davis, Justin Smoak, Buck Coats and Tug Hulett provided him with the necessary run support.

Team USA had a similar lineup on the field in comparison to the opener against Venezuela. The only change was New York Mets prospect Ike Davis, who got the start in right field. Jon Weber stayed in the dugout, Josh Kroeger moved to left. Davis also put them on the board in the second, leading off with a homerun.

One frame later they added three more runs, twice on a RBI fielder’s choice, and one on a RBI single by Pedro Alvarez. Alvarez also impressed with a bunch of great defensive plays at the hot corner. Homeruns by Buck Coats and Justin Smoak made it 7-0 in the sixth. A solo shot by Tug Hulett in the eighth extended the lead even further. Terry Tiffee followed a few batters later with a RBI single.

Redmond was dealing on the mound, throwing strike after strike. He sat down the first 20 batters in a row, until Wulf beat the throw on a groundball to third for a single. One frame later he gave up a clean single to former Minor Leaguer Michael Franke. He finished with eight scoreless innings, striking out seven batters.

Germany avoided the shutout with two outs in the, when Sascha Lutz scored on a throwing error by shortstop Trevor Plouffee after a groundball by Dominik Wulf. But Jason Childers got the final out to seal the win for Team USA.  

Germany’s starter Tim Henkenjohann couldn’t repeat his performance of the World Baseball Challenge in July, when he beat the collegiate squad of Team USA. The right-hander of the German club Bonn Capitals had major control issues from the beginning and surrendered four hits, four runs (2 ER) and four bb in three-plus innings.

Local hero Martin Almstetter relieved him and held the opposing powerhouse to three runs in 4 1/3 innings. Martin Dewald, who is playing for the Georgia College and State University, got the last two outs in the eighth for Germany.  

Team USA will conclude the first round on Saturday afternoon against China, while Germany is battling Venezuela in the evening game.

Photo: Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de