With a short memory, Panama bounces back to down Canada and keep hopes alive

Sunday night’s Panama vs Canada game started with a Logan Allen against Logan Allen dugout standoff. Panama’s Logan Allen won and, well, that proved prescient as Panama – with its backs against the wall – followed suit, shocking Canada with a twice rain-delayed come-from-behind, 4-3 victory. Panama moves to 1-2 in Pool A of the World Baseball Classic and keeps its knockout round hopes alive. Canada moves to 1-1 with the loss.

Panama lost its first game of the tournament, 3-1, against Cuba on Friday and suffered a devastating loss on Saturday, when Darell Hernaiz deposited a 10th-inning walk-off home run for Puerto Rico in front of the home faithful in San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

A day later, it looked like they were headed toward another tight defeat. But after trailing 2-1 through five innings of play against the Canadians, Panama used a three-run sixth to turn the game upside down and put them in the lead for good. Canada helped jumpstart Panama’s rally with an error – Josh Naylor dropped an easy throw from third baseman Abraham Toro to put runners on first and second with one out. Miguel Amaya singled with two outs to load the bases. And then a familiar name came in to pinch-hit: Ruben Tejada.

Tejada (nine MLB seasons) was matched up against Canada’s James Paxton (11 MLB seasons), who started the inning. Tejada hadn’t appeared in a game yet this tournament, but the World Baseball Classic veteran said he was ready.

“For my part, I've got to get ready when the time comes to do as best as possible,” the 36-year-old former Met said postgame. “And to help the team win. That's the main thing."

As the small contingent of Panama faithful chanted “Ruby, Ruby, Ruby,” Tejada proved victorious.

The second baseman looped a single up the middle on a 3-2 offering that brought in the tying run, and an errant throw by James Paxton on a relay allowed another run to score, giving Panama the lead. Leadoff hitter Enrique Bradfield Jr. immediately followed with an RBI single, giving Panama more cushion. Bradfield was a sparkplug for the team, recording three hits and a pair of stolen bases.

The misplays, though, definitely hurt Canada.

“You've got to play this game clean,” manager Ernie Whitt said after the loss. “You can't give extra outs, and we paid for it tonight.”

Four runs were all Panama needed for a pitching staff that was excellent from start to finish. Starter Jaime Barria allowed a pair of runs in 3 2/3 innings and was followed by 5 1/3 one-run innings from Panama’s bullpen.

Pushed to the brink, it’s a big-time victory for the Central American nation that calls baseball its No. 1 sport. Bradfield, who was born in the U.S. but whose father is Panamanian, got emotional after the victory – mixing in Spanish with his native English.

“It means a lot to me,” the Orioles No. 10 prospect said. “I was born in the U.S., but my family's heritage is Panama. To represent the country, para representar el país, is everything to me. I want to play hard. I'm doing it very much for the entire group. I'm doing it for the people of Panama. That's just it. I'm incredibly proud. I'm very happy, and that's it.”

With Panama’s win, four of the five teams in Pool A are still alive. Puerto Rico and Cuba are each 2-0 and will face off on Monday night. Canada is 1-1 after their loss, while Panama moved to 1-2. Colombia was eliminated after losing its first three games.

Panama will face Colombia on Monday at 12 p.m. ET on FS2 – sending World Baseball Classic lifer and country legend Paolo Espino to the mound to keep its knockout round hopes alive. Canada has an off day and will return against Puerto Rico on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on Tubi.