ECUADOR – Panama proved to be a stiffer test, but the U.S. jumped to an early lead and cruised to an 8-0 victory in their second game of the Pan Am Championships at La California Stadium, Monday morning.

Grayson Ivey was the only U.S. player with multiple hits, going 2-3, and Alex Martinez (pictured) and Matt Vogel both had two RBIs. Vogel also started the game on the mound, striking out seven in three innings of work.

The U.S. scored in each of the first three innings for a 6-0 lead. J.P. Crawford doubled to start the game for the second straight time. After he stole second, an errant pickoff attempt allowed him to score for a 1-0 U.S. lead after one.

Vogel, the starting pitcher for the U.S., helped his own cause in the second with a two-run home run. After Martinez reached on an error, Vogel hit a line drive home run to left, putting the U.S. up 3-0.

Three runs in the third gave the U.S. a 6-0 lead. It was Martinez and Vogel again doing the damage, as Martinez had a two-run, bases-loaded double in the inning and was followed by a Vogel RBI groundout.

Ryan Kirby added an RBI single in the sixth and Dempsey Grover also had a run-scoring single in the seventh to round out the 14U squad’s scoring.

Jordan Kron (1-0) earned the win for the U.S., throwing three innings of relief and striking out three while allowing just two hits. Alejandro Cornejo (0-1) took the loss for Panama, lasting three innings.

The U.S. will play its last pool game on Tuesday against Puerto Rico.

Photo courtesy of Matt Marek

Source: USA Baseball

Tags: USA Baseball