PRINCE ALBERT, Canada — The U.S. Men’s National Team (MNT) closed out the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s World Cup Finals in dominant fashion, defeating Japan 10-1 to secure the bronze medal. The U.S. offense put on a strong showing with home runs from four Eagles — Jeff Lewis, Tyler Johnson, Blaine Milheim, and Erick Ochoa — while combining for eight total hits. Lewis and Ochoa led the charge at the plate, each going 2-for-4. In the circle, Marco Diaz delivered a steady performance, striking out six batters while allowing just one run through seven innings.
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Japan struck first, scoring their lone run of the game in the bottom of the third on a sac-fly to take a 1-0 lead. The U.S. responded in a big way in the top of the fifth, as Lewis launched a grand slam over the left field fence to put the Eagles ahead, 4-1. Johnson added some insurance with a three-run shot in the top of the sixth, followed by back-to-back home runs from Milheim and Ochoa in the top of the seventh to tack on three more runs and extend the lead, 10-1. Marco Diaz and the U.S. defense held firm in the bottom of the seventh to lock in the 10-1 win and secure the bronze medal finish.
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The Eagles wrapped up their WBSC Men’s World Cup Finals campaign with a 3-3 record, including a 2-1 showing in Opening Round to advance to their 11th Medal Round appearance in tournament history. Offensively, the U.S. posted a team batting average of .272, led by Cam Schiller (.450) and Ochoa (.364). The squad launched 11 home runs over the course of the tournament, with Lewis, Jonathan Lynch, and Ochoa each sending out two, and Johnson and Schiller adding one apiece. In the circle, the U.S. pitching staff of Diaz, Brad Kilpatrick, and Cody Gibbons combined for 42 strikeouts across 36.1 innings, with Diaz accounting for 35 Ks in 30.1 innings and Gibbons adding five in 2.2 innings of work.
The U.S. Men’s National Team returns to action on August 6 with a matchup against Canada to open up the 2025 World Games.
To learn more about the U.S. Men’s National Team program, visit USASoftball.com.