The second round of the Pan Am/Baseball World Cup Qualifier in Puerto Rico continued on Saturday. Team USA got tested, but remained undefeated. They are now the lone team without a loss in the tournament, as the Dominican Republic beat Cuba. Canada and Puerto Rico also prevailed.
The USA needed to score four runs in the top of the twelfth to beat Venezuela 6-3 after neither team was able to break a 2-2 tie after the fourth. Mike Trout went deep. Jordan Pacheco drove in two for the Venezuelans. Nick Hill received the win, Edgar Martinez the loss.
The Dominican Republic took the lead in the fourth, added three more one frame later en route to a 9-6 win, holding off the Cuban comeback tries. Willis Otanes homered and drove in three for D.R. Riccardo Nanita also picked up three RBI. Jose Constanza scored three times. Ariel Pestano hit a three-run homerun for Cuba. Alexei Bell drove in two. Bartolome Fortunato got the win in relief, Miguel Gonzalez took the loss.
Jamie Romak, Adam Loewen and Shawn Bowman (3 RBI) hit homeruns in a 9-5 Canadian victory over Panama. A bases clearing double by Adam Stern initiated an eight-run rally in the third to blow things wide open. Panama only was able to score in the last two frames. Luis Castillo and Carlos Quiroz combined for four RBI. Philippe Aumont gave up just two hits and a walk in five scoreless innings for the win. Angel Cuan issued six hits and seven runs in 2 2/3 frames, taking the loss.
Hiram Burgos and Juan Padilla led Puerto Rico to a 5-1 win over Nicaragua. Burgos went five innings, conceding four hits, a run and two bb. Padilla closed it out with four innings of two-hit relief. Gabriel Martinez went deep twice to drive in four. Jorge Padilla hit a solo shot. Julio Raudez issued nine hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Results, 2nd Round, Day 2:
Saturday, October 9:
Canada – Panama 9-5
Venezuela – USA 3-6 (12)
Cuba – Dominican Republic 6-9
Nicaragua – Puerto Rico 1-5
Complete Results, Box scores on BaseballdeCuba.com
Standings 2nd Round:
Group A:
- USA 5-0
- Dominican Republic 3-2
- Puerto Rico 2-3
- Panama 1-4
Group B:
- Cuba 4-1
- Venezuela 3-2
- Canada 2-3
- Nicaragua 0-5
Schedule:
Sunday, October 10:
- 2pm Panama – Venezuela
- 2pm Canada – USA
- 7.30pm Nicaragua – Dominican Republic
- 7.30pm Puerto Rico – Cuba