POENIX, ARIZONA – Navan Ontario’s Erik Bedard will be handed the ball on the mound for Canada’s first-ever World Baseball Classic match up tonight against South Africa.
Bedard’s start was a late decision for Manager Ernie Whitt, who decided to start the Baltimore Orioles’ left-hander in order to have him available more quickly should Canada advance to the second round. Fellow lefty and Orioles’ prospect Adam Loewen, who was originally schedule to play against South Africa will now throw against the United States, Wednesday.
“We just felt that if we pitched Bedard first, then his next assignment would likely fall against Japan in the next round, provided we qualify,” said Whitt. “We feel that Japan is a pretty good hitting ball club and that Bedard would match up better against them than Adam Loewen.”
Despite the short notice, Whitt is extremely confident that Bedard will bring his A-Game in his first-start ever for a Canadian National Team.
“Erik has a lot of experience on the mound and he’s one of the best pitcher’s in the game when he’s healthy,” said Whitt. “And he is healthy right now.”
Bedard started the 2005 season 5-1 with a 2.09 ERA before going on the disable list in late may. He finished the season 6-8 with a 4.00 ERA.
South Africa is expected to send the well-conditioned Carl Michaels to the mound. Michaels, a 24-year old once in the Milwaukee Brewers Minor League system, threw 13 innings in a 5-4 loss to the second-place Koreans at the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands. Michaels allowed 12 hits and struck out 12 of the 53 batters he faced in that game. He was charged with only two earned runs but fired a wild pitch that sent the winning run home from third base in the bottom of the 13th inning.
Game time is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. EST at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona. Fans can watch the game live on Rogers Sportsnet East, Ontario and Pacific or tape-delayed at 1:00 a.m. EST on Rogers Sportsnet West. For those without cable television packages, the game will also be featured live at www.worldbaseballclassic.com.
