June 16, 1999
TUCSON, Ariz. – Notre Dame sophomore righthander Aaron Heilman (Logansport, Ind.) allowed two hits over five shutout innings while the potent USA offense smacked three more home runs, as the USA Baseball National Team defeated Mexico, 9-0, in the final game of a four-game series at Hi Corbett Field.
Heilman-who also saved Sunday’s 3-1 victory-posted six strikeouts, eighth groundouts, one flyout and no walks in Tuesday’s impressive outing. He worked out of a one-out jam in the first inning, striking out Ramon Arce with a runner on third base before retiring Jose Contreras to get out of the inning. Heilman then set down 14 of the final 15 batters he faced, before handing the game over to Stetson lefthander Len Dinardo and Arizona righthander Ben Diggins.
Dinardo struggled with his control, walking two, hitting two batters and uncorking a wild pitch in his three-inning stint while Diggins worked the final inning (one K, one walk).
University of California third baseman Xavier Nady (OF, So, California) hit his fourth home run of the series while Diggins had two RBI and a home run from his DH spot. California catcher Mike Tonis also homered in the victory.
Team USA (3-1), which hit five homers in Monday’s 18-2 win, saw Nady leave the park in the second inning. Diggins joined the long-ball assault in the fifth inning, hitting a two-run homer to left field that capped a three-run USA rally for a 5-0 lead.