The hosts were clinical and dominant in their debut in this Pool B WBC qualifier. In front of a healthy, boisterous crowd, Panama picked up an 11-0 mercy rule win over Argentina in seven innings. The hosts now sit a victory away from returning to the World Baseball Classic for the first time since 2009. Not a bad fireworks display to celebrate the 77th birthday of Panamanian legend and stadium namesake Rod Carew.
Panama were turned away in the first inning but rode a throwing error and erratic Argentine pitching to a 1-0 lead after two. 43 year old Argentina starter Guido Monis left in the third inning after continued wildness, his last act hitting Jonathan Arauz a second time. A homer cashed in a run he had inherited leaving him with two runs surrendered in two plus innings and leaving Panama with a 3-0 lead after three. It would be the final 11-0 scoreline after five with two more in the fourth and six runs in a fifth inning onslaught from the hosts. Panamanian pitching would keep it there through the top of the seventh for a mercy rule win.
MLB veteran Humbert Mejia gave Panama four innings of two hit ball with six strikeouts. The bullpen took care of the rest without surrendering so much as one hit. Dodgers #8 prospect Jose Ramos homered in the third and stole a base in the win. Former big leaguer Allen Cordoba drove in three from the leadoff spot and scored two. Former Met Ruben Tejada cashed in two more and scored once in the win also. The aforementioned Arauz had a painful but productive day being hit by pitches twice but also scoring twice. As for Argentina, they never really looked like scoring.
Panama will now face Brazil with the winner punching a ticket to the 2023 WBC. Panama have shown themselves to be very dangerous and hot favorites. They are also at home. Meanwhile, Argentina will face New Zealand in a do or die affair. Victory for Argentina means a date with the winner of the Pakistan versus Nicaragua game, also today.
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