Ponce, Puerto Rico- Venezuela scored three runs in the top of the sixth to go ahead for good as Canada lost their first game of the Pan Am Qualifying tournament by a score of 5-3. For the second consecutive game, Canada was forced to sit through a lengthy rain delay (one and a half hours) after the game had already started. The game was stopped with Canada leading 2-0 and after Canadian starter Nick Bucci (Sarnia, ON) had worked his second straight scoreless frame.
“We had some momentum going and all of a sudden the rain came,” said Canadian Manager Ernie Whitt. “Unfortunately, you can’t control it (the weather).”
Canada scored two runs in the first inning when Jimmy Van Ostrand (Richmond, BC) nailed a ball that the shortstop misplayed thus scoring Pete Orr (Richmond Hill, ON) and Scott Thorman (Cambridge, ON) from second and third base respectively.
When play finally resumed it had been too long a wait for Bucci to continue and Tom Boleska (Burlington, ON) came on in relief.
“Once the delay hit forty minutes we couldn’t send him (Bucci) back out there,” explained Whitt. “I couldn’t live with myself to put him back in, especially a kid with his type of arm.”
Boleska was able to keep Venezuela off the board in the third inning, but they tied the game in the fourth with a two out RBI double.
Replacing Boleska was David Davidson (Thorold, ON) who worked a scoreless fifth inning before getting into trouble in the sixth. Davidson allowed a walk and a single to start the inning and was replaced by Trystan Magnuson (Vancouver, BC). Venezuela advanced the runners to second and third via the sacrifice bunt and it paid-off as the next batter laced a single to centre field, scoring both runs and giving the visiting team a two-run lead. The relay throw home was off-line and the runner made his way to third base with one out. The third run of the inning came on sacrifice fly and Canada found themselves trailing quickly.
Canada would look to make some noise of their own in the bottom of the sixth by loading the bases with none out, but were unable to score any runs.
“For us not to score some runs against what I considered mediocre pitching is somewhat frustrating,” said Whitt.
Jimmy Henderson (Calgary, AB) relieved Magnuson for the eighth and ninth innings and looked solid giving up one hit, one walk and striking out two batters.
With Canada down to its last at-bat Cole Armstrong (Surrey, BC) blasted a solo homerun that landed well beyond the wall in right-center field. It was too little too late however, and Canada’s record for the tournament is now even at 1-1.
“Our goal is to move on to the second round,” noted Whitt. “We have to win two out of our next three games, so hopefully we’ll just keep plugging along.”
Notes: Scott Thorman led Canada with two hits (double and single)…Canada’s next game will be on Monday October 4th against Argentina at Paquito Montaner Stadium in Ponce with the first pitch schedule for 1pm ET…Mike Johnson (Edmonton, AB) is expected to start for Canada…Fans can receive live updates from the game by following Baseball Canada on Twitter…Additional tournament coverage including box scores and stats can be found at: http://premundial2010.prnbt.com and http://www.baseballdecuba.com/panamericano2010/index.html
