Panama sold their defeat dearly and fell 5 runs to 4 against Mexico on the first date of the U12 Baseball Pre-World Championship that was launched in the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico and that grants 4 berths to the 2023 World Cup.
Mexico produced 2 runs in the bottom of the second inning, one in the third and 2 more in the fourth, to complete 5 scores, with 6 hits and an error on the pitch. Panama, for their part, scored 1 in the top of the first and 3 in the 5th when Algis Palacios hit a bomb with two on board and brought Panama closer to the scoreboard.
The victory went to the left-handed pitcher and Mexican opener Gerónino Pérez, who walked 4.1 innings with 7 hits, 3 runs, all earned, 1 walk and 6 fanned out. Game saved for Alfonso Del Valle.
The game was lost by the Panamanian starter Javier Acevedo who was able to work 3.1 innings before giving way to Juan Pablo Alvarez who finished the game at 6.0 innings.
The best at bats for Panama were Roger Vásquez 3-2 with a run scored, Algis Palacios 3-1 with 2 runs scored, 3 RBIs and a home run, Alain Cruz 2-1 and Carlos Aragón 1-1.
Panama will play tomorrow Saturday against Cuba, in a match scheduled to be played from 11:00 am
The tournament distributes four places to the 2023 World Cup in the U12 category to be played in Taiwan.
