The national teams from the USA and Argentina endured a seven hour delay on Saturday, only to have play halted midway through the fourth inning. After another downpour. Grounds crews worked tirelessly most of Saturday afternoon to get the fields ready for the “double life” final, but the rains came again and prevented the completion of the game.
Argentina scored four runs in the first inning, while the USA tallied one, so it’s 4-1 win play resumes on Sunday morning 8:30 AM Eastern time, 5:30 AM for those of us on the West Coast.
USA starter Tony Mancha, who has carried most of the pitching load for the team during the tournament left the game in the second inning with what appeared to be the same injury that caused him to leave last night’s game against Canada. Joel Cooley of St. Paul Minnesota came on in relief with two on and no outs, and managed to pitch out of the inning unscathed. He also threw a scoreless third and fourth inning, and has yet to surrender a hit, striking out to in his 2 2/3 innings.
Maxi Montero started the game for Argentina, and was still in the game when the rains came.
Mexico, Venezuela win elimination games, oust Canada and Cuba
In earlier games today, Mexico hung on to win a wild one against Canada, 7-6, while Venezuela defeated Cuba in a game lengthed by a long rain delay. Venezuela will face Mexico, with the winner advancing to the bronze medal game against the loser of the Argentina-USA game.
In the Mexico-Canada game, Canada started the 7th down 7-2, and staged a furious rally, which ended on a spectacular diving-over-the-head catch by Mexico’s second baseman — stranding the tying run at third.