Lucas May homered in the third inning to start things off for the U.S., and Jon Weber hit a home run to right field to begin a four-run fifth inning to put the U.S. ahead 5-0. Trevor Plouffe added an RBI double down the right-field line, and Justin Smoak followed with a two-run shot to right field.
The U.S. plated another six runs in the seventh, highlighted by Justin Smoak's second home run of the game, a three-run shot down the right-field line. It was his fifth of the World Cup. Ike Davis and Pedro Alvarez knocked in a run each before May finished the scoring for Team USA with a double to left for an 11-1 lead.
The game was stopped after Netherlands Antilies hit in the bottom of the seventh due to the IBAF 10-run rule.
USA starter Kasey Kiker struck out seven batters over four innings, allowing one hit and one earned run. Lucas Harrell (1-0) allowed a hit in three innings while striking out two batters for the win.
Smoak finished the game going 2-4 with two home runs, and Jon Weber and Lucas May each went 3-for-4, both scoring two runs for the U.S.
The U.S. will face Japan on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. local time (2 p.m. ET) at Stadio Comunale in Macerata, Italy. Brad Lincoln is expected to take the mound for the Red, White and Blue.
Game Notes:
The game lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes.
It was Justin Smoaks second multi-homer game in the 2009 Baseball World Cup. Smoak hit two home runs against Venezuela in Regensburg, Germany.
