Pan Am Qualifier: Canada Routs Peru; Argentina Blanks Honduras

Manager Ernie Whitt, far left, and Canada beat Peru 11-1 at the Pan American Games qualifier in Buenos Aires. (Photo: Getty Images)

Day four of the 2023 Pan American Games Qualifying tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina, featured matchups between Canada and Peru, and Panama and Honduras. Each game of the Pan American Games Qualifying tournament will be seven innings, barring extra innings if necessary. 

The six nations are seeking to earn a ticket to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. All games at the Pan American Games Qualifying tournament will be held at Ezeiza National Baseball Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

The Pan American Games Qualifying tournament will run from June 16 to June 21, with the winner of the finals advancing to the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile.

Canada Defeats Peru 11-1 

Canada, the No. 13 ranked country in the World Baseball Rankings, defeated No. 40 Peru on Monday 11-1 in seven innings to improve to 2-1. Peru fell to 1-3. 

Canadas’ offense could not be contained on Monday, totaling 12 hits across seven innings. They jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-run single from catcher Jordan Procyshen. 

Giancarlo Fukushima delivered Peru’s first run of the game in the bottom of the third with an RBI single past Canada’s shortstop to cut the deficit to 2-1, but that remained the only run for Peru until the conclusion of the game. 

Canada added one run in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch to take a 3-1 lead, and scored four more runs in the top of the fifth. After a two-run single to right field from Wesley Darvill, Peru’s right fielder threw the ball away attempting to throw out baserunner Jordan Procyshen at the plate. The errant throw allowed third base occupant Michael Crouse to stroll home, extending Canadas’ lead to 6-1. Elijah Hammel hit a sacrifice fly two batters later, and Canada led 7-1. 

Canada would add three more runs in the sixth inning on a bases-loaded walk to David Glaude, and a two-run single from Jake Sanford made it 10-1. Tristan Pompey hit an RBI groundout in the top of the seventh, and relief pitcher Jake Polancic recorded the final three outs in the seventh to give Canada an 11-1 victory. 

Canada will play their next game on Tuesday, June 20 at 10 a.m. ET against Honduras. Peru finishes the Pan Am Qualifier tournament with a win-loss record of 1-3, and has been eliminated. 

Panama Defeats Honduras 4-0 

Panama, the No. 14 ranked country in the World Baseball Rankings, defeated No. 43 Honduras on Monday 4-0 in seven innings to improve to 2-1. Honduras fell to 0-3. 

Panama took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI single from Erasmo Caballero. Jason Patterson hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the second to extend Panamas’ lead to 2-0. 

Edgar Munoz scored on a passed ball in the top of the fifth to put Panama ahead 3-0, and hit an RBI single to right field in the top of the sixth to give his team a 4-0 lead. 

Panamas’ pitching staff kept Honduras off the scoreboard, and allowed just four hits in the game. The trio of starting pitcher Luis Machuca and relief pitchers Carlos Rodriguez and Severino Gonzalez walked none and struck out eight. Machuca threw five impressive innings, throwing 40 of his 57 pitches for strikes.  

Honduras’ starting pitcher Juan Giron struggled in his outing. In 4.2 innings, he allowed three runs on six hits and walked four. Giron was the losing pitcher in the game. 

Honduras will play their next game on Tuesday, June 20 at 10 a.m. ET against Canada. Panama will play their next game on Tuesday, June 20 at 2 p.m. ET against Argentina.