Baseball: Cummings Debuts in Olympic Games
August 15, 2008 01:24 PM | General
By Steve Stone for MSNsportsNET.com
August 15, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Former West Virginia University pitcher Jeremy Cummings made his first appearance last night for USA Baseball in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The Charleston, W.Va., native gave up one run on two hits in three innings pitched in Team USA’s 5-4 extra-inning loss to defending Olympic champion Cuba. Cummings also recorded a strikeout in a game that began on Friday, August 15, at 11:30 a.m. Beijing time.
The former Mountaineer entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with the scored tied 2-2. His only blemish came in the bottom of the eighth when he gave up a solo home run to designated hitter Alfredo Despaigne, which tied the game at 3-3.
Cummings provided three quality innings for Team USA in relief. The United States took a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 11th until relinquishing it to Cuba, who took full advantage of the International Baseball Federation’s extra-inning rule that puts base runners on first and second base with no outs starting in the 11th inning. The rule also allows for a team to start the inning anywhere in its batting order.
The United States is now 1-2 in Olympic play but remains eligible to reach the medal round. Its next game begins tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET against Canada.
