Puerto Rico Stays Alive

Complete Coverage of the Americas Olympic Qualifier

By Eric Edwards
November 8, 2003

PANAMA CITY, Panama--It was a night for players best identified by their middle initial.

A two-out eighth-inning double by Luis A. Figueroa plated two runs as Puerto Rico rallied for a 5-3 victory over host Panama Friday night, continuing its quest for one of the two spots at stake here for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Trailing 3-2 seven innings into the game, Puerto Rico quickly threatened against Panamanian reliever Rafael Medina in the eighth.

Jose 'Chepito' Munoz drew a walk to open the inning, and after Hiram Bocachica (Tigers) grounded into a fielder's choice, Jose Flores doubled to right field to put runners on second and third. Figueroa then worked the count to 2-0 against reliever Manuel Cortas before lining his double past first baseman Sherman Obando. Angel Pagan (Mets) singled home Figueroa for a measure of insurance.

Righthander Jonathan Albaladejo (Pirates) came on to get out of a jam with two outs in the seventh innings, then shut down Panama the rest of the way to get the win, his second of the tournament.

Earlier in the day Mexico pulled off the surprise of the tournament, upending defending Olympic champion Team USA, 2-1 on a ninth-inning home run by Luis A. Garcia.

Omar Olivares turned in a stellar five innings of work for Puerto Rico, but the bullpen couldn't hold a 2-0 lead and the islanders trailed 3-2 through seven innings before rallying.

Puerto Rico will now play the winner of Cuba's quarterfinal game against Brazil tonight. Mexico will play the winner of the early game Saturday between Canada and Colombia.

Panama lefthander Roger Deago (Padres) and Olivares were locked in a pitcher's duel through four innings, but both pitchers were making their second appearance in this tournament and both tired.

Puerto Rico got to Deago in the fifth inning when Raul Nieves drew a walk and scored ahead of a line drive by Omar Garcia that just cleared the fence in left field for a two-run homer.

With Olivares, who hasn't pitched in Organized Baseball since 2001, out of gas and out of the game after five innings, Panama took advantage of a Puerto Rican bullpen with cobwebs on it after four straight days off.

Minor league veteran lefthander Stevenson Agosto walked Omar Moreno Jr. to start the inning. Moreno then took second on a wild pitch and third on a fielder's choice. 

Obando followed with a one-hopper to Luis A. Figueroa at shortstop. Playing to concede the run, Figueroa still had plenty of time to get Moreno at the plate, but skipped his throw to Hector Ortiz in the dirt, allowing him to score.

Ruben Rivera (Orioles) then shipped the first pitch he saw from Giancarlo Alvarado well over the left field wall for a 3-2 Panama lead.

Puerto Rico loaded the bases in the seventh with one out against Medina, but Garcia grounded into a rally-killing double play.