Trailing 6-4 heading into the bottom of the tenth, Team Canada scored three runs in unconventional fashion to defeat the United States 7-6 and take home the Men’s Pan Am Baseball Gold in Ajax Ontario.
International tie breaker rules mean that each team gets to put runners on first and second at the start of the “extra inning.” With Tyson Gillies and Skyler Stromsmoe on base, Pete Orr singled to score Gilles and cut the deficit to 6-5. Now with Orr on first and Stromsmoe representing the tying run at third, things got weird.
American pitcher David Huff tried to pick off Pete Orr at first base, but his throw went into right field allowing Strosmoe to score and tie the game. An alert Orr went first to third on the throwing error. As he slid into third base, the throw from right field was also wide of the bag, allowing Orr to come home with the winning run. One play, two throwing errors, and two Canadian runs meant the difference between gold and silver on this muggy Ajax night.
“It was weird when we all came together at first, because I’m 36 and some of these guys are in their early 20’s — I was playing professionally when some of these guys were in kindergarten,” said Orr, who has been back and forth between the minor and major leagues for 16 pro seasons. “We told everyone to feel they could be themselves, and they really opened up. We’ve had a great time; it’s been really special.”
Canada successfully defended the Pan Am gold won over the U.S. four years ago, and this win gives the country three gold medals in the last five Pan Am Games.
“We’ve been through the tiebreak thing before. I don’t like it, but it is what it is, and we try to execute it.,” said manager Ernie Whitt. “The first gold medal was great; this one on home soil felt even better.”
Main Photo via Getty Images
