Canada loses first playoff game against Venezuela at Pan American Championship (1 v. 2)

Canada loses first playoff game against Venezuela at Pan American Championship

(Medellin, Colombia) In the first versus second playoff game against Venezuela, Team Canada fell to the visiting team by a score of 5-2 in a game that was called after six and a third innings due to rain. According to CONPASA rules, the game is considered final if at least five full innings have been played. Therefore, the score reverts back to the last completed inning, which gave Venezuela the 5-2 win. Canada had a runner on first with one out when the game was called.

Venezuela opened the scoring in the top of the first with two outs, as the third batter reached first base after the third strike went to the backstop. The next two batters hit singles to put the Venezuelans up 1-0. They added to the lead with a run in the second, but Canada scored in the bottom of the inning as Mark Johnson (Glencoe, ON) was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Blair Ezekiel (Harbour Main, NL). Venezuela added three runs in the top of the fourth on three more hits to take a 5-1 lead. Team Canada got one back in the sixth when Stephen Mullaley (Freshwater, NL) led off with a homerun. With the skies threatening in the seventh, Jason Hill (St. John’s, NL) was left stranded on first with the top of the order coming to bat and the rain falling down. After a 30 minute rain delay, the game was called.

Don Scott (Stratford, ON) started for Canada in the pitcher’s circle and threw three and two third innings, allowing all five runs (four earned), six hits, and struck out five. Andy Skelton (Newmarket, ON) relieved Scott and threw the last three and a third innings allowing no runs, two hits and struck out five.

Earlier in the evening, Argentina blanked Mexico 8-0 to advance to the medal round. Canada and Argentina will play each other in an elimination game at 3:00pm CDT on Saturday, with the winner advancing to play Venezuela for the gold medal at 5:30pm. The gold medal game can be seen at: http://teleantioquia.com.co/es/envivo/index.shtml.

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