Australian Baseball

 

 
 
 
  

Red Sox blank Team Australia
Youkilis' two-run shot in third lifts Boston to victory

By Maureen Mullen / Special to MLB.com


Philip Seibel

    

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Kevin Youkilis' two-run homer in the third inning was all the scoring the Red Sox needed, as they defeated Team Australia, 3-0, on Sunday night at City of Palms Park, before 5,370.

With one out in the third, Mark Loretta walked and scored on Youkilis' first-pitch home run over the left-field fence. The Sox added another run in the sixth as Ron Calloway, who had singled and stole second, scored on David Murphy's single.

The Aussies threatened in the second inning, when Brendan Kingman and Tom Brice each singled and advanced to third and second, respectively, on a passed ball, but Jon Lester struck out Matthew Kent swinging and got Brad Harman to ground out.

Phil Seibel got the win and Kason Gabbard got the save for the Sox, while Craig Anderson took the loss for the Aussies.

Australia sent seven pitchers to the mound for an inning of work each. In a Spring Training-only special, the teams played a full seven innings, despite Boston's lead, to ensure the Australian pitchers could get their work in.

The Australians leave Fort Myers, where they had been working out prior to their Pool D competition in the World Baseball Classic, on Monday morning. Their next game is Tuesday against Team Italy.

The Red Sox's next game is Monday against the Devil Rays in St. Petersburg.

March 5, 2006

   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   R   H   E 
Australia
 0 0 0 0 0 0 0       0 5 0
Boston
 0 0 2 0 0 1 0       3 5 0
  
W: P. Seibel; L: C. Anderson; SV: K. Gabbard
HR: BOS: K. Youkilis.
03/05/2006 9:06 PM ET 

Maureen Mullen is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.