As was the case in the final game of the Pool A qualifier between the Czechs and Spaniards, a past defeat meant nothing as far as this game was concerned. Nicaragua overcame a previous defeat to Brazil after erasing a two run deficit previously against Argentina to claim the second available WBC berth from Panama. It's a Central American sweep in Panama City.
Nicaragua started fast with two runs in the very first inning. An Elmer Reyes RBI groundout and a Dwight Britton double cashed in the runs. They loaded the bases in the second but failed to score here in what could could have iced the game early. As it turns out though, they would not need more runs. Former Blue Jays farm hand Osman Gutiérrez would give Nicaragua six innings of one run ball. Another RBI groundout in the seventh would provide a valuable insurance run. Brazil would mount a valiant last stand in the bottom of the eighth but Christian Lopes would ground into a double play to snuff out a potential comeback. Joaquin Acuña would take it from there to save perhaps the most important game of his life.
Leonardo Reginatto went 3 for 3 in a losing cause and scored Brazil's only run. Unfortunately for them, their fate was sealed as Heitor Tokar was unable to finish two innings and Brazil was lucky to not fall further behind in that second inning. Ultimately, it was offense that did them in. Besides Reginatto, they managed only two hits and wound up missing out on qualification.
And so ends the second and final WBC qualifier. Nicaragua will add one more feather to their cap in a long, successful history in international baseball. Brazil must try again next time around and keep building on the successes of the last decade and a bit. For Nicaragua, it will be an important step forward in reminding the baseball world of what they have achieved in the past and what they can achieve in the future. They struggled early, overcame adversity and eventually found it in them to avenge that early loss and punch a ticket to the main dance next M
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