After not allowing more than one hit in any of his outings last season, Braves closer Craig Kimbrel could not close out the side in the ninth inning and was pegged with the loss for Team USA on Thursday night against the Dominican Republic.
With the score tied at a run apiece, Kimbrel allowed a leadoff double to Nelson Cruz. Erick Aybar then singled in the go-ahead run and stole second base. Jose Reyes then slapped a single off Kimbrel to seal the game. Kimbrel allowed two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. He also struck out one and did not issue a walk in a 3-1 defeat. It was the first time Kimbrel has allowed more than a run in an outing since Sept. 19, 2011.
"That's just the way it went today," Kimbrel said. "They got the momentum. Cruz got on with the double to start it off. Any time that happens, it's tough to rebound and get back. We had a chance against Aybar to possibly get the strikeout. It didn't happen."