Canada loses first, draws Puerto Rico in Pan Am semi final
LHP Shane Dawson (Drayton Valley, Alta.), shown here in Cary, NC, worked 5 1/3 scoreless in Canada's first loss of pool play Saturday, a 4-1 setback to the USA. Photo: Alexis Brudnicki.
July 17, 2015
Canada suffers first Pan Am loss, Puerto Rico up next in semis
By Adam Morissette
Baseball Canada
AJAX, Ont. – The Canadian Men’s Baseball Team (5-1) dropped its first game of the Pan American Games losing 4-1 to the United States (4-2) to conclude round robin play.
The United States used the win to avoid elimination and will now face Cuba in tomorrow’s first semi final (1pm ET), while Canada will host Puerto Rico in the second semi final (7pm ET). Both games will take place at President’s Choice Ajax Pan Am Ball Park.
“We had some opportunities but didn’t get the timely hits, however, we were able to save the bull pen,” said Canadian Manager Ernie Whitt.
Canadian starter Jared Mortensen (Abbottsford, BC) lasted 3 2/3 innings allowing four earned runs. He gave way to left-hander Shane Dawson (Drayton Valley, Alta.) who worked 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
“I was just happy to help the team in any way I could tonight,” said Dawson. “Whether they want me to pitch one inning or five – I’ll do whatever is asked of me.”
The work by Dawson now means that Canada has a well-rested bullpen to cover both Saturday’s semi-final and a medal game on Sunday.
Canada took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on Skyler Stromsmoe’s (Bow Island, Alta.) RBI double, but the US answered back in the third with three runs to go up by two. Canadian starter Mortensen had retired eight in a row to start the game before he allowed three consecutive singles to bring in a run before a walk and another single scored two more.
In the fourth, a walk followed by a stolen base and RBI double put the US up by three, which spelled the end for Mortensen who gave way to Dawson.
After recording the final out in the fourth, Dawson tossed perfect frames in the fifth and sixth before giving up a one out single in the seventh. He was perfect again in the eighth before allowing a single in the ninth. He finished his outing with three strikeouts.
The Canadian offence did have some opportunities to make some noise, but failed to do so leaving two runners on in the sixth and the bases loaded in the seventh. Canada actually out hit the US eight to seven with Pete Orr (Newmarket, Ont.), Tim Smith (Toronto, Ont.) and Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, BC) collecting two apiece.
For Canada, the focus now shifts to Saturday night’s match-up against the Puerto Rico with a spot in the gold medal game on the line.
“We’ve put ourselves in a good position for Saturday’s game with our pitching and now it’s just a matter of getting it done,” added Whitt. “We’ll be ready.”
Up Next: Canada will host Puerto Rico tomorrow in a semi-final contest beginning at 7pm ET… The other semi-final will feature Cuba and the United States (1pm ET) … United States (7pm ET) at President’s Choice Ajax Pan Am Ball Park … RHP Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) is expected to start on the mound for Canada … The best way to keep up with the action is by following @baseballcanada on Twitter
United States 4, Canada 1
Score
Team 123 456 789 R H E LOB
USA 003 100 000 -- 4 7 0 5
Canada 010 000 000 -- 1 8 2 9
Statistics
Canada
Name Position AB R H RBI BB SO PO A E
JAMIESON Sean, SS 5 - 1 - - 4 1 - -
ORR Peter, 3B 4 - 2 - - - 1 - -
O’NEILL Tyler, CF 3 - - - 1 3 4 - -
LENNERTON Jordan, 1B 4 - - - - 3 5 - -
TOSONI Rene, LF 4 1 2 - - - 2 - 1
KJELDGAARD Brock, RF 3 - - - 1 1 3 - -
SMITH Timothy, DH 4 - 2 - - - - - -
ROBINSON Christo.., C 3 - - - - 2 8 - 1
DEGLAN Kellin, PH 1 - - - - 1 - - -
STROMSMOE Skyler, 2B 3 - 1 1 1 - 2 3 -
MORTENSEN Jared, P - - - - - - - 1 -
DAWSON Shane, P - - - - - - 1 1 -
Totals 34 1 8 1 3 14 27 5 2
Statistics
United States
Name Position AB R H RBI BB SO PO A E
JANKOWSKI Travis, CF 4 1 2 - - - 1 - -
PARRINO Andrew, SS 4 1 1 1 - - 2 2 -
BOGUSEVIC Brian, RF 3 - - - 1 2 - - -
PASTORNICKY Tyler, 3B 4 - 1 2 - 1 1 2 -
KOTCHMAN Casey, 1B 4 - - - - - 5 - -
WILSON Jacob, 2B 3 1 - - 1 - 2 3 -
MURPHY Thomas, C 4 - 1 - - 2 14 - -
KIVLEHAN Patrick, DH 4 - 1 1 - 2 - - -
ALMORA Albert, LF 4 1 1 - - 1 2 - -
SMITH Nate, P - - - - - - - - -
COLEMAN Casey, P - - - - - - - - -
BAUMANN Buddy, P - - - - - - - - -
ELLINGTON Brian, P - - - - - - - - -
HUFF David, P - - - - - - - - -
BARRETT Jake, P - - - - - - - - -
SEWALD Paul, P - - - - - - - - -
Totals 34 4 7 4 2 8 27 7 -
Pitching Statistics
Canada
Name Position W/L/S IP Hits (H) R ER BB SO HR WP BK
MORTENSEN Jared L(1,1,0) 3.2 5 4 4 2 5 - - -
DAWSON Shane 5.1 2 - - - 3 - - -
Totals 9.0 7 4 4 2 8 - - -
Pitching Statistics
United States of America
Name Position W/L/S IP Hits (H) R ER BB SO HR WP BK
SMITH Nate W(2,0,0) 5.2 7 1 1 - 10 - - -
COLEMAN Casey - - - - 1 - - - -
BAUMANN Buddy 0.1 - - - - - - - -
ELLINGTON Brian 0.1 1 - - 1 1 - - -
HUFF David 1.0 - - - 1 1 - - -
BARRETT Jake 0.2 - - - - - - - -
SEWALD Paul S(0,1,1) 1.0 - - - - 2 - - -
Totals 9.0 8 1 1 3 14 - - -
Standings
Pool - Classification
Rank Team GP W-L RF RA W/L% GB
1. Canada 6 5-1 38-15 .833 -
2. United States 6 4-2 33 22 .666 1
3. Cuba 6 4-2 41 23 .666 1
4. Puerto Rico 6 4-2 40 44 .666 1
5. Dominican Republic 6 3-3 30 35 .500 2
6. Nicaragua 6 1-5 22 43 .173 4
7. Colombia 6 0-6 22 44 .000 5