Mayaguez, Puerto Rico-Pete Orr (Richmond Hill, ON) hit a ball that caromed off the shortstop and into left field which allowed Jonathan Malo (Joliette, QC) to score the go-ahead run and Canada held off Nicaragua to win their opening game of the Pan Am Qualifying tournament 7-6. After the start of the game was delayed by an hour, it took another six hours for the game to be completed as a two hour rain delay halted the game after three innings.
“It was a tough day for both teams, the field condition was terrible but we had to get it in,” said Canadian Manager Ernie Whitt. “We kept battling and so did they (Nicaragua) so it was a good win for us.”
Scott Diamond (Guelph, ON) threw three scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Canada jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the rain started coming down. An incredible amount of water accumulated on the field at Isidoro Garcia Stadium putting the game in doubt, however the field was deemed playable after the rain held up and the grounds crew whipped the field back into shape.
Once play resumed Nicaragua scored their first run of the ball game when reliever Steve Green (Greenfield Park, QC) gave up an RBI double. Canada answered back in the top of the fifth when Jamie Romak (London, ON) belted a solo homerun over the leftfield wall to restore his teams three run lead. The hit was Romak’s second of the game and also his second RBI of the game.
“I actually heard the catcher’s feet shuffle inside,” explained Romak. “I was looking (for a pitch) inside and I was able to put a good swing on it.”
Nicaragua chipped away at the Canadian lead with a run in both the fifth and sixth inning. Chris Kissock (Trail, BC) entered the game in the sixth inning and was greeted with a solo homerun on the second pitch he threw. Kissock settled in after the home run as he kept Nicaragua off the scoreboard while striking out two batters.
In the seventh inning, Canada added what they thought to be insurance runs when Chris Robinson (Dorchester, ON) doubled with one out and later scored on a Malo triple. Malo was Canada’s hottest batter as he went 4 for 5 with 2 RBI. Malo then scored when Orr hit a ball off the end of the bat for a base hit that fell into left field.
Nicaragua refused to quit and pushed across three runs in the bottom of the eighth to tie the score at 6-6. Henry Mabee (Victoria, BC) left the bases loaded with two out when Ryan Braun (Kitchener, ON) came on to try and stop the Nicaragua threat. The first batter Braun faced hit a double to centre field that cleared the bases and sent the Nicaragua dugout into celebration. Braun retired the next batter to end the inning, but not before Nicaragua took a page out of the Canadian book and fought their way back into the game.
“They are a scrappy team and they don’t give up,” added Whitt. “They are going to surprise some teams in this tournament.”
With the Canadian bench determined to take the lead, Malo delivered by laying down a bunt and advancing to first with one out in the ninth. After Adam Stern (London, ON) beat out an infield single, Orr stepped to the plate and delivered when it mattered most.
With Canada ahead, Braun came back out and pitched a scoreless ninth as Canada turned a double play to end the game. Braun was credited with the win.
“It was a long day and we’re happy to get out of here with a win,” added Whitt.
Notes: It will be a quick turnaround as Canada will face Venezuela at 1pm ET on Sunday (October 3rd) at Paquito Montaner Stadium in Ponce…Nick Bucci (Sarnia, ON) 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
