France 302 000 000 5 12 1 Spain 000 011 010 3 9 2
France scored five runs in the first three innings on route to a 5-3 win over Spain at the World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Panama City on Friday afternoon. With the victory France remains alive and faces the loser of Friday evening’s matchup between Colombia and Panama. Spain is eliminated from the WBCQ after qualifying for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Ernesto Martinez drove in three runs for France, while Andy Paz and Frederic Hanvi each scored twice. Douglas Rodriguez had three hits. Spain fought back and cut the deficit to two runs in the end. But a comeback didn’t happen. Leonel Cespedes earned the win, allowing one unearned run on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.