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Squad Now 6-2 with Final Game Tonight vs. Puerto Rico Before Playoff Round
Hermosillo, Mexico—The USA Softball Men’s National Team rolledto a 5-0 victory over host Mexico at the 2006 Men’s Pan American SoftballChampionships on Thursday night. With the win, the U.S.improves to 6-2 in round-robin competition with one game remaining on Fridayagainst Puerto Rico.
Paul Algar (Lexington, Ill. had another solid performance in the circle for the United States and recorded hissecond shutout of the championship. In six innings of work, Algar allowed just two hits while striking out 11 of the 23 batters he faced. Tony Peeples (San Miguel, Calif.pitched the final inning and held Mexico hitless while striking out two.
The U.S. broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning after Chad Boom (Barnesville, Minn.) ledoff with a single and scored on a single by Sonny Perkins (St. Michaels, Ariz.).Luis Joglar (Fairview, NJfollowed Perkins with a single that plated Landy Rodriguez (West Haverstraw, NJ) who reached after being hit by a pitch.
It was Boom once again that got things started for the U.S.in the bottom of the fourth inning when he led off with a walk. Rodriguezfollowed with a single that advanced Boom to second and into scoring position.A double by Joglar brought both runners around to score and gave the U.S. a4-0 advantage.
In the fifth inning the Red, White and Blue added an insurance runwithout recording a hit. Omar Moraga (Tucson Ariz.) led off the inning with awalk, stole second base and then scored on two consecutive pass balls for a 5-0 lead.
The U.S. completes round-robin play on Friday at 9 p.m. versus Puerto Rico and will begin the playoffs on Saturday.