| The Americans won the Olympic gold medal | | | | the next four frames. Michael Bourn and |
| in the year 2000, but didn't succeed to | | | | Billy Butler had two runs each one for |
| qualify for the 2004 Summer Games in | | | | the U.S. and two RBIs. Michael Bourn |
| Athens. This year the United States of | | | | tripled in two runs in the bottom of the |
| America's Olympic Baseball Team earned | | | | second inning letting USA's score ahead |
| the right to participate in the 2008 | | | | of its opponent's and then knocked out |
| Olympics in Beijing by beating Panama 11 | | | | Panama starter Elpidio Pinto by scoring |
| - 5 on Sunday night. Cuba also qualified | | | | three times in the third. |
| for the Olympics after winning the game | | | | Greg Smith allowed one run, struck out |
| against Mexico 4 - 0. Both qualified | | | | five and walked two in 3 1/3 innings for |
| teams will play against each other next | | | | the United States. Nic Ungs tossed the |
| Tuesday. The U.S. record stands at 5-1 | | | | next 3 2/3 frames for the win. |
| in the tournament, while Cuba is 6-0. | | | | Baseball is the first sport in which |
| Tuesday marks the final game for both | | | | Americans have earned a spot in the 2008 |
| teams. | | | | Olympics. Baseball game's inventors and |
| During the U.S. - Panama game, Bobby | | | | the champions of the 2000 Sydney |
| Hill had three hits with an RBI (Run | | | | Olympics missed the 2004 Olympics as |
| Batted In) and scored twice for the | | | | they didn't get to qualify at the |
| USA's team, which fell behind 1-0 in the | | | | Americas Qualifier. |
| first inning, but scored 10 runs over | | | | |