MLB Futures Game 2011 Update: USA Uses 8th Inning To Win, 6-4

The USA Futures team defeated the World Futures, 6-4, in the 2011 MLB Futures Game on Sunday evening. A late comeback by USA in the eighth inning sealed the victory.

Grant Green decided he didn't want his earlier RBI to go to waste, so when he entered the batter's box to start the bottom of the eighth inning he unleashed a double to the dead part of center field inside Chase Field. A double by Tim Beckham scored Green to tie the game.

Two outs later, Austin Romine singled to left field, scoring Tim Beckham on a throw wide of home plate. Romine moved to second on the throw home and came around to score on an opposite-field double by Colorado Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado for the insurance run and a 6-4 lead.

Bryce Harper recorded his second strikeout of the game during the inning. After working his way out of an 0-2 hole, Harper swung and missed on the fifth pitch, a fastball down the middle of the plate.

Phillies RHP Jarred Cosart was the pitcher of record in the eighth inning and took the victory. Kelvin Herrera took the loss. Green was named the Larry Doby Award Winner as the most valuable player in the game. He went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.

For more on the stars of tomorrow and other minor league prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

The USA Futures' 3-0 lead was short-lived, as the World answered back for four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Along with a number of defensive changes, Mike Piazza's USA squad brought in Drew Pomeranz to pitch the inning. He allowed a Dayan Viciedo single in between a strikeout and a pop out. That's when Dodgers OF Alfredo Silverio sent ball over the left center field wall, several rows out, for a two-run homer.

But things didn't end there. Red Sox OF Chin-Hsien Chiang worked a walk to set up pinch-hitter Phillies C Sebastian Valle, who hit an RBI double to tie the game. Kyle Gibson replaced Pomeranz on the mound and faced Rangers SS Jurickson Profar, who tripled in Valle for the 4-3 lead.

Midway through the eighth inning, the game is still 4-3 in favor of the World Futures.

For more on the stars of tomorrow and other minor league prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

The 2011 MLB Futures Game is a 3-0 contest in favor of the USA Futures following the fifth inning. After Jason Kipnis homered in the bottom of the first and hit an RBI ground out in the second inning, it took three more innings for another run to score. After Wil Myers hit into a double play, Giants OF Gary Brown singled to left. Athletics 2B Grant Green replaced Kipnis as a pinch-hitter and saw Brown steal second and move to third on a balk by Martin Perez.

Green waited for his pitch, taking a fastball and driving it into left field for an RBI double. Rays SS Tim Beckham entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Manny Machado but left Green stranded on second base.

USA pitching has continued its strong performance on Sunday with Tyler Skaggs, Shelby Miller and Matt Moore among the pitchers who have kept the World Futures quiet.

For more on the stars of tomorrow and other minor league prospects, visit Minor League Ball.

While Washington Nationals OF Bryce Harper has had no trouble hitting minor league pitching at two levels during the 2011 season, he is now 0-for-2 during the 2011 MLB Futures Game. After striking out in the first inning on a Julio Teheran 96 mph fastball, Harper swung at the first pitch he saw from James Paxton (Seattle). It was a sharp hit, but Reds 1B Yonder Alonso picked up the ball and tossed it to Paxton at first for the final out.

Jason Kipnis started USA's day at the plate with a home run off Teheran, but he had a broken-bat out in the third inning. Orioles SS Manny Machado flied out to right for the second out of the inning.

Shelby Miller pitched the top of the third for the USA and picked up a strikeout and a ground out to start the inning. However, Jose Altuve and Yonder Alonso reached base on a single and a walk, respectively. But Dayan Viciedo grounded out to Machado, who tossed it to Kipnis at second base to end the inning.

For more on the stars of tomorrow and other minor league prospects, visit Minor League Ball.