The final game of Group A in the Premier12 between Puerto Rico and Panama was played last night at Coloso del Pacifico in Tepic, Mexico. Puerto Rico was eliminated from moving onto the Super Round after their loss to Venezuela. Jonathan Bermudez took the mound for Puerto Rico, facing Panama’s Jaime Barria. Panama would come back late to defeat Puerto Rico 4-3.
Panama would waste no time in the bottom of the first, and on the first pitch he saw, Edgar Muñoz hit a solo home run into left field, as Panama would strike first to make it 1-0.
In the third inning, Ezequiel Pagan blasted his second home run of the tournament, a solo shot to left field to tie things at one apiece.
It would remain tied until the bottom of the fifth after Jose Ramos walked with one out and steal second base. Joshwan Wright delivered with a double down the right field line for Panama to take the lead at 2-1.
Sabin Ceballos would get Puerto Rico ahead in the top of the sixth, blasting a deep two-run home run to left field, for Puerto Rico to take the lead at 3-2.
But with two outs in the bottom of the eighth for Panama and a runner on first, Luis Castillo stepped up to the plate. He would deliver Panama’s biggest hit of the tournament, blasting a two-run home run to right center to bring them ahead, 4-3.
Alberto Baldonado would come on for his second inning of relief after taking over in the eighth. He would record two flyouts and get Shawn Ross looking on strikes to seal the victory for Panama, defeating Puerto Rico, 4-3.
Panama might have won tonight’s game, but they will not advance to the Super Round. The United States will head to Tokyo for the Super Round after defeating Mexico last night. Although Panama finished with the same record at 3-2 along with the USA, they won’t advance due to the direct tie-breaker, as the United States ended as the second-place team in Group A… They will join Venezuela in Tokyo for the Super Round.
The Super Round for Premier12 begins on November 20 at 10 PM EST, and the game will be played at the Tokyo Dome.
Watch the entire Premier12 on DAZN.
