2007 Pan American Games

The 2007 Pan American Games are the 15th edition of the Pan American Games. Eight baseball teams competed in Rio de Janeiro starting on July 14. Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the USA and Venezuela competed. Cuba won its 10th straight title.

Several notable former major leaguers appeared. Jose Offerman, Luis Polonia and Raul Mondesi were on the Dominican roster and Erubiel Durazo, Karim Garcia were on the Mexican team (Offerman, Mondesi and Durazo did not wind up playing, though both of these entries had 5 or more former major leaguers who did see action). The Americans sent their college national team, while Cuba, Panama and Nicaragua sent rosters loaded with names from past international tournaments.

July 14

A power outage forced the postponement of the Dominican Republic-USA and Nicaragua games.

Game 1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	10	0
Panama	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	X	4	10	0
Win: Gomez (1-0) Loss: Sánchez (0-1)

In a major upset, Panama scores 4 in the 5th and gets solid pitching from four hurlers for a one-run win. CF Giorvis Duvergel goes 3 for 4 with two runs for Cuba but Panamanian 1B Audes de Leon also has a 3 for 4 game.

The Mexico-Venezuela game was called due to darkness and would be completed later in the week.

July 15

Game 3

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Nicaragua	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	1
Brazil	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	1	5	1
Win: Yamada (1-0) Loss: Raudez (0-1)

Claudio Yamada and Kleber Ojima give the home fans something to be excited about, with this four-hit shutout. 2005 Baseball World Cup star Tiago Magalhaes drives in the lone run.

Game 4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	0	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	5	8	12	0
Mexico	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	2
Win: Palma (1-0) Loss: Rivera (0-1)

RF Luis Alfonso García hits a homer, the sole blemish on Adiel Palma's 10-strikeout, 6-inning, 4-hit effort. Pedro Luis Lazo finishes up with three scoreless frames. 1B Alexander Mayeta gets three hits, including two home runs, while 3B Yulieski Gourriel also goes deep as Cuba shows that game one did not represent their level of performance.

Game 5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
Panama	2	1	1	0	0	0	4	9	0
Venezuela	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	0
Win: Tello (1-0) Loss: Palma (0-1)

Panama got all they needed in the first four batters. With one out, 2B Roberto Gutierrez singled, as did RF Freddy Herrera. LF Earl Agnoly doubled both in and Rodrigo Tello made it hold up.

Game 6

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
USA	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	2	0	5	9	1
Dominican Republic	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	4	3
Win: Ross (1-0) Loss: Beltre (0-1)

Despite six former major leaguers - Polonia, Deivi Cruz, Enrique Wilson, Eddy Garabito, Juan Sosa and Wilson Delgado - in the lineup, the Dominicans manage just four hits against three American collegians. A homer by Wilson is their lone tally. USA left fielder Logan Forsythe went 3 for 4 with a steal and a run to pace the Americans.

July 16

Game 7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mexico	0	0	3	0	0	1	5	0	0	9	13	0
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
Win: Campillo (1-0) Loss: Herrera (0-1)

2B Efren Espinoza goes 3 for 3 with 3 RBI and DH Luis M. Suarez goes 3 for 5 with two runs and a RBI as Panama's unbeaten tourney goes up in flames in this rout. Jorge Campillo allows just 3 hits and a walk while fanning six in the complete game effort. Despite their win over Cuba and 2-1 record, Panama fails to make the semifinals, as Mexico beats them to the spot.

Game 8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	R	H	E
Dominican Republic	0	2	2	0	5	1	1	3	14	16	0
Brazil	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	5	0
Win: Vargas (1-0) Loss: Pereira (0-1)

The home team did not fare as well this time. LF Alejandro Diaz went 2 for 4 with a double, homer, 3 runs and 3 RBI while fellow outfielder Julio Ramirez scored three and hit a 3-run homer. Jorge Meran, the catcher, was 3 for 5. 7 Dominicans had at least two hits.

Game 9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	8	4
Cuba	1	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	4	4	0
Win: Lazo (1-0) Loss: Guanchez (0-1)

In another surprisingly close call for the Cubans, they get outhit 8-4 and have to rely on four errors to produce their runs (all unearned). CF Giorvis Duvergel (1 for 3, 2 BB, 2 runs) again leads the offense, while Pedro Luis Lazo is perfect over the final 2 2/3 IP, striking out four, for the victory. LF Ron Acuna goes 3 for 5 with two runs and a double as Venezuela's fine leadoff threat.

Game 10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
USA	3	1	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	8	14	2
Nicaragua	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	4	6	2
Win: Lynn (1-0) Loss: Portobanco (0-1)

Nicaragua remained winless with Team USA third baseman Pedro Alvarez driving in five. Former Mets AA player Luz Portobanco fails to last through the first inning and gives way to Oswaldo Mairena. US LF Logan Forsythe goes 2 for 2 with 3 walks, 2 runs and a steal. The game faced the threat of a rain out as a drizzle began in the third inning and continued throughout. Less than a year later, Portobanco would die in a tragic car accident.

July 17

Games cancelled due to rain.

July 18

Game 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
Mexico	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	9	2
Venezuela	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	2	10	0
Win: Diaz (1-0) Loss: Landaeta (0-1)

Game two, delayed by darkness, is resumed with more bad results for Venezuela. LF Ron Acuna gets 4 hits for the Venezuelans, but the 1-2 hitters in the Mexican order, LF Ivan Terrazas and SS Jose Sandoval each go 3 for 5, Terrazas adding a walk.

Game 11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Dominican Republic	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
Nicaragua	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	0
Win: Hernandez (1-0) Loss: Morla (0-1)

Armando Hernandez throws 8 1/3 scoreless innings, holding the major league-laden Dominicans to four hits to give Nicaragua its first win. All the runs come in the first on an Edgard Lopez single, a walk to Jorge Avellan, a sacrifice bunt, a single by Justo Rivas and an error by Jorge Meran. Nicaragua makes it into the semifinals past the Dominicans.

Game 12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brazil	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	5	8	2
USA	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	0	X	7	8	3
Win: Joe Kelly (1-0) Loss: Arai (0-1)

A late rally keeps the US unbeaten. Jordan Danks drew 3 walks, stole a base and scored two runs. Logan Forsythe (2 for 3) and Pedro Alvarez each drove in two. Brazil's Anderson Gomes (one of a couple Brazilians in the US minors) was 2 for 3 with two walks, a steal, a run and a RBI. The home team is eliminated after the valiant effort.

Records After 12 games

Pool A

• USA 3-0
• Brazil 1-2
• Dominican Republic 1-2
• Nicaragua 1-2

Pool B

• Cuba 2-1
• Panama 2-1
• Mexico 2-1
• Venezuela 0-3

Game 13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mexico	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	1
USA	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	X	2	8	0
Win: Matusz (1-0) Loss: Campos (0-1)

Francisco Campos shuts down the US except for two runs in the fifth that knock Mexico into the Bronze Medal game. Logan Forsythe is again the US star, with three hits, including the game-winner.

Game 14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Nicaragua	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	2
Cuba	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	X	4	9	0
Win: Sánchez (1-1) Loss: Pineda (0-1)

Elier Sánchez makes up for his game one defeat with 7 shutout innings, allowing four hits, and two relievers finish it up. CF Giorvis Duvergel goes 3 for 5 with a run and a RBI.

July 20

Game 15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	10	0
USA	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0
Win: Palma (2-0) Loss: Jacob Thompson (0-1)

1B Alexander Mayeta drives in two with a double while DH Osmani Urrutia goes 4 for 4 with a double and steal to give Cuba its 10th Gold Medal in a row in baseball in the Pan-am Games. Adiel Palma (7 2/3 IP) and Pedro Luis Lazo (1 1/3 IP) to do the fine moundwork.

The Bronze Medal Game was cancelled due to heavy rain and all players from Mexico and Nicaragua were each awarded the Bronze.

Primary source: 2007 Pan-American Games website