Rollins, Roberts help Americans bounce back

Mar 16, 2009 - 6:54 AM MIAMI (Ticker) -- Jimmy Rollins homered and drove in four runs and Brian Roberts made a strong World Baseball Classic debut as the United States bounced back from Saturday's setback with a 9-3 victory over the Netherlands on Sunday.

Roy Oswalt allowed five hits and struck out five in four scoreless innings and Adam Dunn homered for the United States, which will face the loser of Monday's game between Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

Rollins hit a two-run homer in the second, added an RBI triple in the third and hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth to push the lead to 7-0.

Roberts, who replaced an injured Dustin Pedroia on the roster on Saturday night, went 3-for-3 with a triple, double, two runs scored an RBI while batting behind Rollins in the No. 2 hole.

Kevin Youkilis, David Wright and Brian McCann added an RBI apiece for the U.S., which was embarrassed, 11-1, by Puerto Rico in its first second-round matchup on Saturday.

The Netherlands finally got on the board in the seventh and added two more in the eighth before U.S. righthander Matt Lindstrom was removed with an arm injury. Lindstrom caused a stir before leaving, responding to Bryan Engelhardt admiring a solo homer by throwing behind Vince Rooi.

The Netherlands, which lost to Venezuela on Saturday, is now eliminated from the WBC.

JAPAN 6, CUBA 0

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SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Daisuke Matsuzaka struck out eight in six scoreless innings to lead Japan to a 6-0 victory over Cuba in the Pool 1 opener of the World Baseball Classic.

Kenji Johjima and Akinori Iwamura had two hits apiece and Norichika Aoki drove in a run for Japan, which will play Korea on Tuesday.

Matsuzaka, who stared during Japan's run to the 2006 WBC title, allowed five hits - all singles - and threw 61 of 86 pitches for strikes in mowing down the Cubans.

The Japanese jumped on the board with three runs in the third. Johjima and Iwamura led off with back-to-back singles off lefthander Aroldis Chapman. Johjima was throw out trying to advance on Ichiro Suzuki's bunt, but Yasuyoki Kataoka followed with a single to load the bases.

Norberto Gonzalez came in to replace Chapman and unleashed a wild pitch, allowing Iwamura to score the game's first run. Aoki followed with an RBI single and Shuichi Murata's sacrifice fly capped the frame.

Ichiro added an RBI in the fourth and Seiichi Uchikawa singled in a run in the fifth to put the game away.

Cuba will face Mexico in an elimination game on Monday.

KOREA 8, MEXICO 2

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SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Tae Kyun Kim homered and drove in three runs, leading Korea to a 8-2 triumph over Mexico in the other Pool 1 contest.

Kim snapped a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning with a solo blast, sending Mexico starter Oliver Perez's offering over the left-center field wall. Kim also delivered a two-run single in the seventh to ignite a four-run frame, which made it 8-2.

Bum Ho Lee and Young Min Ko also blasted solo home runs for the Koreans.

Hyunjin Ryu gave up two runs and five hits with a walk and three strikeouts over 2 2/3 innings before Korea's bullpen tossed 6 1/3 scoreless frames.

Perez surrendered four runs - three earned - and six hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings.