WILLIAMSPORT, PA –
The first game of the day is Canada vs. Puerto Rico from Volunteer Stadium, as the teams face off in an elimination game.
Jonyel Cordero starts the game on the mound for Puerto Rico.
After two walks, Cordero gets his first out, striking out first baseman Ben Wegwitz.
Cordero works out of trouble and keeps Canada off the board.
Shortstop Luis Martin leads off the bottom half with a single to left field off starting pitcher Ronan Bobiles.
A series of passed balls allows Martin to go to second, then third, and finally home to make the score 1-0 Puerto Rico.
After a walk and a passed ball brought catcher Fernando Santos to second, Leugim Beltrán roped a single to right to bring another run across. 2-0 Puerto Rico.
A two-out, two-strike base hit to right field brings in Beltrán to increase the lead to three.
Bobiles gets the next batter out via the groundout and escapes further trouble.
3-0 Puerto Rico after one
Canada gets two runners on and they both are in scoring position looking to get back in the game. Another walk loads the bases. Canada fans are getting loud.
A single to left field by Joshua Hernstedt and Canada immediately responds getting two runs across. 3-2 Puerto Rico, still two on and no outs.
Another walk loads the bases.
A single to left by Raymon Dhasi ties the game! 3-3 in the second.
A double to center by Rye Precioso scores two and gives Canada the lead, 5-3.
Cabalfin hits an infield single and loads the bases but the runner holds at third. Bases loaded, still nobody out.
Bobiles and Wegwitz both work walks and brings across another two runs for Canada. 7-3 in the elimination game.
Left fielder Eric Popovich, not related to Gregg, ropes a double to right-center to extend the lead to 9-3.
Blake Anderson brings in two more with a single to left and there is still nobody out in the top of the second.
Catcher Moose Kluth drops a bunt down and an error allows him to get all the way to third bringing in another run for Canada.
Puerto Rico gets out of the inning thanks to a great play by center fielder Jossier Escribano who threw out a runner trying to score on a sacrifice fly. We head to the bottom of the inning with Canada leading 12-3.
Bobiles gets right fielder Carlos Rosario to pop out to shortstop to start the inning. He then follows that up with two K’s to end the inning.
12-3 Canada after two
Jadiel de Jesus takes the mound for Puerto Rico to start the top half of the third inning, and works a clean inning. We head to the bottom with Puerto Rico needing a rally.
Bobiles works a 1-2-3 inning to keep the score the same.
12-3 Canada after three
Martin makes a great diving catch to start the inning. De Jesus works a 1-2-3 inning.
After a leadoff walk, Beltrán rips a line drive down the right field line for a triple and scoring a run. He then scored on a passed ball and the Puerto Rican faithful is coming alive. 12-5 Canada leads.
Bobiles gets the next three batters out.
12-5 Canada after four
Runners on first and third for Canada with one out. A bunt loaded the bases but De Jesus made a nice play on a come-backer threw it to home and the catcher threw it to first for the 1-2-3 double play.
Puerto Rico needs a rally.
Bobiles picks up where he left off, starting the bottom of the fifth with back to back strikeouts. He exits the game due to pitch count restrictions, going 4.2 innings with seven strikeouts and five runs allowed.
Eric Popovich comes in from left field in relief and gets De Jesus out on a groundball.
Score remains 12-5 Canada after five
After two quick outs, De Jesus hits Dhasi with a fastball on the shoulder but gets the next batter out via the strikeout.
We head to the bottom of the sixth with Puerto Rico trailing by seven.
Popovicvh works a clean sixth and Canada avoids elimination.
FINAL: 12-5 Canada
