Game 7 - Panamá vs. Colombia (Play-Off 2)
After having eliminated the Mexican champion on Friday, Colombian champion Caimanes Olímpica de Barranquilla struck again on Saturday by winning 3-0 against Nacionales de Panamá.
With that, Panamá also was eliminated, while Colombia became the second finalist!
On Friday, Colombia scored the lone run in the first Play-Off game against Panamá in the eighth inning.
Today, they opened the score in the second at bat.
After being retired in order in the first inning by lefthanded starter Davis Romero, Colombia scored its first run in the next at bat.
With one out, Gerson Montilla doubled.
Next batter Manuel Boscán then lined out to short stop Eduardo Thomas, who threw the ball to second trying to double up Montilla.
A close play followed, but Montilla was safe and scored moments later when Steve Brown followed with a single.
For Panamá, the first two batters singled in the first inning off of righthanded starter Randy Consuegra.
Rodolfo Orozco reached on an infield-hit, but was caught stealing.
Hereafter, Eduardo Thomas singled, but he stranded on second base.
After giving up the hit to Thomas, Consuegra retired the next eight batters in a row.
In the top of the fourth, Colombia got into scoring position again.
After the first two batters struckout, Gerson Montilla hit his second double of the game, but was left on second base.
In the bottom of the fourth, Panamá got its first baserunner since the first inning.
After having retired eight batters in a row, Randy Consuegra hit lead-off batter Eduardo Thomas with a pitch.
But with one out, the Colombian defense turned its 15th double play of the tournament.
In the bottom of the fifth, Panamá got close to the tying run.
Arismendy Motta took over the pitcher for starter Randy Consuegra.
He gave up an infield-hit to lead-off hitter Rubén Rivera, who then moved on a sacrifice bunt and a flyout.
However, he then stranded when next batter Rodrigo Vigil was called out on a low third strike by Nicaraguan Home Plate Umpire Roman González.
Panamá again got close to the tying run in the sixth at bat.
With one out, Rodrigo Orozco reached on an infield-hit.
He moved on a sacrifice bunt, then reached third base when Luis Javier Castillo also reached base safely on an infield-hit.
But Panamá stranded another runner on third base when next batter Carlos Javier Quiroz popped out into centerfield.
After Panamá had failed to come alongside, Colombia added two insurance runs in the top of the eighth inning.
With one out, Ronald Ramírez walked and advanced to third base on a single by Fidel Peña.
Hereafter, Efraín Contreras also singled to bring in Ramírez and again put runners at the corners.
It led to a pitching change, as Saúl González was brought in.
He was greeted with a runscoring single by Adrían Sánchez that made it a 3-0 score.
With runners at first and third base, another pitching change followed.
Lefthander Alberto Baldonado took over and began with striking out Arthur Charles.
At the same time, Sánchez stole second base.
To set up a force play, next batter Gerson Montilla was walked intentionally, loading the bases.
The three runners stranded when a flyout ended the at bat, but Colombia was now leading 3-0.
In its remaining two at bats, Panamá got two more baserunners, but was unable to score.
In the bottom of the eighth, pinch-hitter Ashley Ponce led off with a walk, but was forced out.
In the ninth, off of a new reliever, Carlos Javier Quiroz walked with one out and stole second base.
But a foul-out and flyout then ended the inning and the game.
Panamá was eliminated and Colombia advanced to the final!
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Colombia also eliminates Panamá to reach Final of Serie Latinoamericana
MANAGUA (Nicaragua) -
Caimanes Olímpica de Barranquilla, the champion of Liga Colombiana de Béisbol Profesional (Colombia) is the second finalist of the fourth edition of the Serie Latinoamericana.
Colombia now will meet Gigantes de Rivas, the champion of Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional (Nicaragua), on Sunday in the all-deciding Final.
Gigantes qualified for the Final after completion of the preliminary round.
The team ended in a tie first place with the Panamanian squad, but advanced, as the rules state that the hosting country advances in case of a tie for first place.