LA PAMPA, Argentina (Box Score) – The U.S. U-23 Men’s National Team mounted a late push against Canada in its sixth game of the Pan American Championship tonight, but came up short in a 4-2 loss.
The Eagles finished the game with two runs, six hits and one error, falling to 3-3 overall in round robin play.
GAME LEADERS
On offense, five different players secured hits for Team USA, led by shortstop Braden DuCharme with two. Dustin Thompson, Manuel Mendham, Logan Boom and Alejandro Gonzalez each had one hit apiece with Gonzalez also notching his first home run of the tournament for two RBIs.
Pitcher Marco Diaz saw action in six innings, allowing five hits and four runs (2 earned), finishing the game with 10 strikeouts on. He had 95 total pitches with 68 strikes.
GAME BREAKDOWN
Canada struck first after hitting a hard ground ball that would force an error by the Eagles, allowing the Canadians to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. USA would challenge in the top of the second with two singles, sending Mendham to third base, but a pop out by Gonzalez would end the inning with Canada still in the lead.
Heading into the bottom of the third, Canada would make it 3-0 on back-to-back batters with a single that advanced a player to home and a passed ball. Canada would score its final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, singling a line drive to right field to give them a 4-0 advantage.
The Eagles would score two runs in the top of the seventh with a home run to center field from Gonzalez, bringing himself and Jacob Hartranft across home plate with just one out on the board. The DuCharme brothers would hit back-to-back singles with two outs, putting the winning run up to bat, but a pop out from the Eagles would end the game in Canada’s favor.
UP NEXT
USA will play against Guatemala tomorrow (Friday, Sept. 19) at 8:30 a.m. CT/10:30 a.m. ART in the final game of round robin play. Fans can follow along with the action at this link.