Diamondbacks prospect Mark Reynolds has recorded four two-homer games in the Minors since being chosen in the 16th round of the 2004 draft, but Tuesday's feat might just top them all. Reynolds, a 23-year-old University of Virginia product, drove in four runs to lead Team USA to a 5-2 victory over Puerto Rico in pool play competition at the 2006 Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Jose, Cuba.

 

Team USA remained unbeaten (4-0) and clinched the top seed in its bracket heading into its final pool play game Wednesday.

 

Reynolds broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with an opposite-field shot that barely cleared the right-field foul pole. Puerto Rico's manager Jose Carradero and his coaching staff argued the call to no avail.

 

In the fourth, Chad Allen singled and was picked off first three pitches before Billy Butler hit his second homer of the competition. Puerto Rico came right back in the bottom half and tied the game on a bases-loaded double by shortstop Raul Nieves off Team USA starter Greg Smith.

 

With the score tied in the fifth, 2-2, Kurt Suzuki doubled and Skip Schumaker. Reynolds stepped to the plate and sent a 3-1 pitch deep to left, but it bended into foul territory. On the next pitch, he launched a three-run homer to the opposite field to give Team USA a lead it would not relinquish.

 

The U.S. bullpen corps of Nic Ungs, Jeff Ridgway and Lee Gronkiewicz held Puerto Rico scoreless on two hits over four innings. Henry Owens closed out the game with a perfect ninth for his first save of the tournament.

 

New York Mets Minor Leaguer Willie Collazo was saddled with the loss after allowing five runs and nine hits in eight innings of work.

 

Team USA is scheduled to play Venezuela at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday at Nelson Fernandez Stadium.

 

Notes: The game was delayed for 30 minutes after the fifth due to heavy rains. Nelson Fernandez Stadium did not have a tarp. ... Round 2 of the tournament is scheduled to begin Friday. ... Team USA pitchers have recorded 32 strikeouts in four games. ... Reynolds has three home runs in the last two games. He leads the team in homers and is second behind Allen for the top spot in RBIs with six. ... Butler is batting .385 with two homers, four RBIs and three runs. ... Since not homering in the opener against Canada, Team USA batters have hit eight in the past three games. ... Collazo had not allowed three homers in a game in 23 Minor Leagues starts this year and allowed two only twice.

 

 

 

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This was the U.S.'s fourth game of the tournament...the US is 4-0 with wins over Canada (9-3), Brazil (8-7), Mexico (15-3) and now Puerto Rico

 

Marlins players playing for Team USA include Nic Ungs and Mike Kinkade

 

Ungs thus far has pitched in 1 game (1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K)

Kinkade has played in 3 games going 6-14 with a 6 runs and 6 RBI, 2 doubles

 

Others of local South Florida Intrest include Henry Owens (Mets) and Willie Collazo (Mets), who is playing for PR

 

Owens has pitched in 3 games (2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 4 K) picking up one save

 

Collazo took the loss for PR against the US pitching eight innings, 9 hits, 5 earned runs, one walk and 5 K's

 

The US is next scheduled to play against Venezuela at 2 p.m. Wednesday before advancing to the elimination round

U.S. lost to Venezuela this evening 12-9 and now advances to play against the DR on Saturday night