Americans hold off Dutch, remain alive

MIAMI --- Baseball looked more like America's national pastime Sunday night.

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Associated Press

Jimmy Rollins (left) is congratulated by Derek Jeter and teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the Netherlands on Sunday night. The U.S. won the game 9-3.

Team USA avoided elimination from the World Baseball Classic, beating the Netherlands 9-3 to ease the sting of a drubbing endured against Puerto Rico the night before.

Jimmy Rollins drove in four runs with a homer, triple and sacrifice fly, and Team USA newcomer Brian Roberts went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBI. Roy Oswalt pitched four scoreless innings.

JAPAN 6, CUBA 0

In San Diego, pitching in the same ballpark where he led Japan to the inaugural WBC title three years ago, Red Sox ace Daisuke Matsuzaka was brilliant in silencing Cuba's previously undefeated big hitters in the second round.

INJURY UPDATE: Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia downplayed his strained left abdominal injury that sent him home from Team USA at the World Baseball Classic with a message for fans: "Tell them to calm down. We'll handle this."

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, meanwhile, will miss the rest of the tournament because of a strain in his right side that has bothered him for a week.