Premier12, First Round, Pool A: Canada – Puerto Rico 2-0
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One day after stunning Cuba at the Premier12, Canada picked up its second win in the tournament with a 2-0 shutout over Puerto Rico at Dou-Liou Stadium. Once again the team of manager Ernie Whitt received a strong effort from its pitching and defensive corps.
It was a pitcher’s duel at its finest. The only two runs in the game came on a two-run home run by Tyler O’Neill in the seventh. Otherwise both offenses were shut down. Puerto Rico had its best scoring opportunity in the top of the same frame. They loaded the bases with no outs through a couple of walks and a hit batter with Juan Rivera and Jay Gonzalez coming up. But first Rivera struck out looking and then Gonzalez grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Phillippe Aumont did his best impression of Houdini in that inning and received the win. He had reliever starter Scott Diamond after the fifth. Diamond had issued just three hits and two walks in five innings. Dustin Molleken closed out the shutout. Luis Cintron conceded three hits, two runs and two walks in 6 2/3 innings to take the tough loss.
Canada will be playing against host Chinese Taipei on Thursday evening at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung. Puerto Rico is going to face Cuba in a meeting of 1-1 teams at the same ballpark in the afternoon.