A win over the Dominican Republic keeps U.S. gold medal hopes alive.
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN >> For Triston Casas, the Olympics feel as comfortable as spring training.
That’s because when he stepped to the plate in the United States’ elimination game against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, he was facing Boston Red Sox Double-A teammate Denyi Reyes.
“I have one career at-bat off of him in spring training, and I hit a home run over the batter’s eye, as well,” Casas said after he crushed a two-run, firstinning drive that started the Americans to a 3-1 win. “So 2 for 2 with a walk.”
Tyler Austin, a former major leaguer in his home ballpark of the Central League’s Yokohama Bay Stars, added a solo home run in the fifth against Gabriel Arias, his second long ball of the tournament to go with a .412 average and five RBIs.
The U.S. (3-1) plays defending champion South Korea (3-2) on Thursday night for a spot in Saturday’s gold medal game, with the loser facing the Dominicans for the bronze. Japan (4-0) defeated South Korea 5-2 to earn a spot in the title game.
Scott Kazmir (1-0) escaped a bases-loaded, oneout jam in the first. The 37-year-old left-hander, who has pitched for the Angels (2009-11) and Dodgers (2016) as part of a 13-year big league career, hurled two-hit ball over five scoreless innings, retiring 14 of his final 15 batters around José Bautista’s leadoff double in the third.
“I felt like I still had a lot in me,” Kazmir said.
A 21-year-old first baseman at Portland, Maine, Casas homered following a one-out walk to Austin. Casas, batting .313 with eight RBIs, was the 26th
Triston Casas, a Red Sox minor leaguer, rounds first base after hitting a home run for the U.S. vs. the Dominican.
overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft and is hitting .271 with six homers and 30 RBIs for the Sea Dogs this season.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s better, but the atmosphere makes it better,” he said of the Olympics. “I feel like it puts pressure on both sides of the ball, on defense and on offense, really stay engaged in every pitch, really just trying to focus on winning.
“At the end of the tournament,” he added, “nobody’s going to remember really how many home runs I hit or how many runs I drive in. It’s just whether we came home with that gold.”
Reyes (0-1), a 24-yearold right-hander, allowed two runs and two hits in four innings. He is 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in two starts and 11 relief appearances at Portland.
Before he made two starts and a relief appearance for the San Francisco Giants in late May and June, Kazmir had not pitched in the major leagues since 2016. He hopes agent Brian Peters can get him signed for later this season or 2022.
“I have two little boys,” Kazmir said. “I want them to see me play and not just see a video or anything like that. I feel like that’s a huge motivation for me.”
Kazmir was available for the Olympics because he was assigned outright to Triple-A Sacramento on June 11.
“He fell under a rock. I think he got designated for assignment at the right time when we were about ready to make some decisions in putting our club together,” U.S. manager Mike Scioscia said. “There’s no doubt he can pitch in the major leagues and be very effective.”
Kazmir started on 16 days’ rest on a broiling day with a 90-degree temperature at game time and high humidity. With a fastball in the 91 mph range and a cutter he’s developed, he threw 77 pitches, struck out five and walked one.
Playing 14 hours after their ninth-inning comeback win over Israel, the Dominicans (2-3) loaded the bases with one out in the first. Johan Mieses grounded into a forceout at the plate, bringing up Melky Cabrera, who bounced to Todd Frazier, who stepped on third for the inning-ending forceout.
Brandon Dickson, Scott McGough and Anthony Gose followed Kazmir with an inning each.
David Robertson allowed Charlie Valerio’s two-out homer and a walk, then struck out Yefri Pérez with a man on for his second save.