Panama beats Mexico after exciting pitching duel to close Super Round Day 1 at U-23 Baseball World Cup

Panama beats Mexico after exciting pitching duel to close Super Round Day 1 at U-23 Baseball World Cup
30/09/2021
Panama's Julio Ibarra allowed only four hits and two walks over 6-1 innings of work. First baseman Abraham Rodriguez hit a two-RBI single in the sixth.

Two starting pitchers shined their brightest under the lights on Wednesday in Hermosillo. In the end, one came out triumphant.

Panama’s Julio Goff and Mexico’s Alemao Hernandez each took shutouts into the sixth inning before Panama broke through with the only two runs of the night as the world’s No. 13 took down No. 5 Mexico, 2-0, in a classic at Estadio Sonora.

Goff and Alemao were the story throughout Wednesday’s thriller, trading quick innings throughout the game’s first five. Panama and Mexico combined for just five hits before the sixth inning, and Goff tallied four strikeouts against one walk while Alemao countered two walks with two K’s.

Panama finally solved lefty Alameo on its third time through the order against him. After Jose Mordock led off the top of the sixth with a foul out to third base, Adrian Montero and Joshwan Wright followed with singles to left field. Following Erick Mordock’s lineout to short, Erasmo Caballero worked a two-out walk to load the bases and set the stage for Abraham Rodriguez.

The first baseman delivered, lining a single to center field to score Montero and Wright and bring an end to Hernandez’s night.

"I was confident because I had already seen that pitcher twice. So I told to myself I couldn't let him get me again," said an emotional Rodriguez seconds after the game. "I feel a lot of pride now. We are motivated to do the best we can to win."

Buoyed by the lead, Goff continued his dominant effort. The Los Angeles Angels prospect allowed a two-out single to Mexico catcher Brandon Valenzuela but struck out Agustin Ruiz to end the inning. In the seventh, Goff induced a flyout from Kevin Lamas to open the final frame before handing the game off to his bullpen.

James Gonzalez finished the job. Facing pinch hitters Fernando Villegas and Kevin Zamudio, Gonzalez got grounders to short and third to earn the save and move Panama to 2-1 on the Super Round table while Mexico – the only unbeaten to start the Super Round – fell to 2-1.

!You need to credit their starter. He pitched a great game and didn't give us a chance," said Mexico's manager Enrique Reyes.

On Thursday morning at 10:00, Panama matches up with Colombia, which defeated Chinese Taipei on Wednesday. Mexico will wait for the night game where it will square off with powerful Venezuela, coming off an 11-0 win over Cuba, at 19:30.

"This game is the past," said El Che "Venezuela is of course a very good team and so is Colombia. It will be an interesting race."