Pitching, three-run second inning lift Canada past CNMI

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BANGOR – The Canadian champions from Surrey, British Columbia ran into an impressive lefthander from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Tuesday.

But the Canadians were able to play small ball, reaching Anthony Palacios for three runs in the second inning without hitting the ball out of the infield, and the tandem of Justin Beaudry and Dan Mullen made them stand up with clutch performances as they posted a 4-1 triumph at Mansfield Stadium.

Surrey is now 2-1 while the champs from Asia-Pacific fell to 0-2.

Lefty Beaudry and righty Mullen spaced eight hits and two walks while combining for five strikeouts. They held CNMI to just three hits in 17 at-bats with men on base (.176).

“I threw a fastball, curve and knuckler and relied on my defense,” said Beaudry.

“My curve was working good today and the defense came through. That’s what got me out of the innings,” said Mullen.

Palacios scattered seven hits over six innings with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

The decisive second inning rally began when Chad Stang reached on an infield roller to third and Jim Croasdale pushed a bunt single up the first base as no one covered the bag.

Kevin Crowhurst’s sacrifice up the first base line loaded the bases when first baseman Ben Taisakan threw late to third.

Sean Donaldson walked to force in the first run before Scott Cameron executed a squeeze bunt to deliver the second run.

Cameron said he knew he was going to be called upon to squeeze and it had to be a good one because there was a force-out situation at the plate.

“It had to be down the third base line so the guy wouldn’t have a chance to throw the guy out [at the plate],” said Cameron. “He threw me an outside pitch and I was able to get it down.”

Cameron also said their team spends a lot of time on bunting.

“Bunts work. They scored runs for us. We’ll take it,” said Beaudry.

The third run scored on Ian Watt’s grounder to second as the throw to the plate was late.

The Asia-Pacific champs had at least one base-runner in every inning including two in the fourth, sixth and seventh.

They scored in the fourth when Palacios lined a double to right center, moved to third on Antoine Allen’s single and scored when Jeff Saures lined a two-out single to left center. But Beaudry notched a strikeout to end the inning.

Beaudry allowed six hits in his four-inning stint with three strikeouts and a walk.

Mullen pitched two-hit shutout ball over the final three innings with two strikeouts and a walk. He stranded five runners.

The Canadians added an insurance run in the sixth on a walk, singles by Beaudry and Cody Springer and a wild pitch.

Beaudry and Stang had two hits each for the Canadians while Palacios and Antoine Allen had two apiece for CNMI.

“We did our best,” said Palacios who was satisfied with his performance.

“My fastball and curve both worked pretty well,” said Palacios.

There were several defensive gems and just one error between the two teams.

CNMI center fielder Tyrone Omar and shortstop Allen each made spectacular diving catches to save runs.

The Canadians, meanwhile, turned a pair of double plays.

CANADA 4, ASIA-PACIFIC 1

CNMI (0-2) Surrey, B.C. (2-1)

Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI

Omar, cf 4 0 1 0 Watt, cf 2 0 1

Palacios, p 4 1 2 0 Mullen, rf-p 2 0 0

Secharmidal,c-3b 4 0 0 0 Beaudry, p-1b 4 0

Allen, ss 3 0 2 0 Springer, c 4 0 0

Taisakan, 1b 1 0 0 0 Lambert, rf 3 0 0

Flores, 2b 1 0 0 0 Derish, rf-lf 1 0 0

Saures, 2b 2 0 1 1 Stang, 1b-cf 3 1 0

Ada, 3b 1 0 0 0 Croasdale, lf 2 1 0

Concepcion, c 2 0 0 0 McKinnon, cf 1 0

Guerrero, lf 1 0 0 0 Crowhurst, 3b 0 1 0

Mendiola, lf 2 0 1 0 LeClair, 3b 2 0 0

Tenorio, rf 3 0 1 0 Donaldson, ss 2 0 1

Cameron, 2b 0 0 0 1

Reyes, 2b 0 1 0 0

Totals 28 1 8 1 Totals 26 4 7 3

Asia-Pacific 000 100 0 ? 1

Canada 030 001 0 ? 4

E?LeClair; LOB?Asia-Pacific 8, Canada 9; 2B?Palacios, Allen, Tenorio; Beaudry; DP?Canada 2 S?Crowhurst, Cameron; SB?Watt, Stang

Asia-Pacific IP H R ER BB SO

Palacios (L,0-1) 6 7 4 4 3 10

Canada IP H R ER BB SO

Beaudry (W,1-0) 4 6 1 1 1 3

Mullen (S,1) 3 2 0 0 1 2

WP?Palacios 2; Beaudry; T?2:19; ATT?200 (est.)