Young's blast lifts Team USA to victory

For Delwyn Young, it doesn't seem to matter which level he plays at. He's going to hit. The Dodgers prospect drilled a two-run homer in the top of the eighth inning Wednesday to lift Team USA over the Surprise Rafters, 5-3.

In a game that featured a combined 24 strikeouts, including two by Young, the 26-year-old outfielder delivered the big blow. He followed Devil Rays prospect Evan Longoria's one-out double in the eighth with his first homer of the fall off Angels farmhand Darren O'Day (0-1), snapping a 3-3 tie.

"He is a great hitter," Team USA first baseman and Pirates prospect Steven Pearce said of Young.

Young, who is batting a Team USA-best .529, helped the national squad improve to 3-2 entering Thursday's fall finale against the Peoria Saguaros at Scottsdale Stadium. Team USA will then fly to Taiwan on Thursday night to prepare for the IABF World Cup, which begins Nov. 6.

If the regular season and AFL results are any indication, Young will be a major part of Team USA's offense against international competition. The Los Angeles native finished third in the Pacific Coast League with a .338 average to go with 17 homers and 97 RBIs. He also led the PCL and finished second in the Minors with 54 doubles.

Those numbers didn't take a dip during his Major League callup as Young hit .382 with two homers and three RBIs in 19 games with the Dodgers. He batted .778 in his first three AFL contests, including a stretch of five straight hits.

"I like being behind him on deck or in the hole watching [Young] hit," Pearce said. "I just hope there are two guys on base when he comes up, because he is that good of a hitter that he is going to get the job done."