SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — In his first-ever taste of international competition, Logan Webb needed just 52 pitches to toss four innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts as Team USA started pool play with a 15-5 victory over Team Brazil on Friday evening at Daikin Park.
Team Brazil shocked Webb to begin the evening when Lucas Ramirez, the son of 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, homered on Webb’s second pitch of the night. From there, Webb retired the next 12 batters that he faced before handing the ball off to the United States’ bullpen.
While Webb pitched well and Team USA dominated, the night’s most memorable moments belonged to Team Brazil.
Ramirez followed up his homer off Webb with a towering solo homer off Gabe Speier in the bottom of the eighth, while 17-year-old right-hander Joseph Contreras, the son of former major-leaguer Jose Contreras, shattered three-time MVP Aaron Judge’s bat to induce an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.
Webb’s next and final appearance of the tournament, assuming Team USA advances as expected, will be in the quarterfinals on either March 13 or 14. It will be an abnormally long gap between starts for Webb, who typically enjoys the luxury of a regimented schedule leading up to Opening Day.
The right-hander is one of several Giants participating in this year’s tournament.
Right fielder Jung Hoo Lee had two hits, a walk and a run scored in Team Korea’s 11-4 win over Team Czechia on Thursday but rolled his ankle during the win. Manager Tony Vitello said on Friday morning that the injury shouldn’t keep him out of games, and Team Korea will need Lee when it plays Japan at 2 a.m. PST on Saturday at the Tokyo Dome.
On Friday, second baseman Luis Arraez totaled a hit, a run scored and two RBIs in Team Venezuela’s 6-2 win over Team Netherlands, while left fielder Heliot Ramos had a sacrifice fly as Team Puerto Rico cruised to a 5-0 win over Team Colombia. On the mound, right-hander Tristan Beck allowed a go-ahead three-run home run to Team Mexico’s Jonathan Aranda as Great Britain lost 8-2.
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