Team USA’s Pool Play Finale Canceled Due To Rain, Lightning

Image credit: Simeon Woods Richardson (Tom DiPace)

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.—Team USA’s final game of pool play at the Americas Qualifier was washed away by rain. Now, it will prepare for the Super Round.

Team USA led Puerto Rico, 6-1, in the fourth inning on Thursday when rain began to fall at Clover Field. After a 45-minute delay, the game was canceled due to lightning in the area.

The game is not official and will not be counted. The statistics from the game will not be counted either.

The cancellation nullified some strong performances from Team USA.

Righthander Simeon Woods Richardson pitched four innings with four hits allowed, one run, no walks and five strikeouts. The Blue Jays prospect allowed a two-out RBI single to former major leaguer Ivan De Jesus Jr. in the third inning but otherwise cruised. He got strikeouts on his fastball, curveball and changeup and all four hits he allowed were singles, one of which was an infield single.

De Jesus’ single briefly put Puerto Rico ahead, 1-0, but Team USA responded immediately. Tim Federowicz and Nick Allen hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the third inning to put Team USA in the lead, 2-1, and Allen hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to make it 6-1.

Allen, the A’s No. 6 prospect, went 2-for-2 with five RBIs and made a pair of slick defensive plays at shortstop. Federowicz went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored and Red Sox prospect Triston Casas went 1-for-1 with a single, a walk and two runs scored.

The statistics, however, will not count toward the official record. With Team USA already through to the Super Round and Puerto Rico eliminated, the game will not be made up.

Team USA will face Canada in the Super Round on Friday. If it beats the Canadians, it can clinch a berth to the Summer Olympics with a win over Venezuela on Saturday.