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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Joaquin Tejada allowed only one hit and struck out nine in 4 1/3 innings, Carlos Gonzalez had three RBIs and Panama beat Mexico 10-2 on Thursday in the opening game of the 70th Little League World Series.
Gonzalez hit a 2-out RBI single to left field in the third inning to give Panama a 1-0 lead. Two pitches later, Esmith Pineda hammered a 3-run home run to right-center field for a 4-0 lead. Gonzalez hit into a double play in the fifth but Tomas Sarmiento scored to extend Panama's lead to 5-2.
Gonzalez also came on in relief and struck out four in 1 2/3 innings.
Mexico's first hit was in the fourth inning when Victor Juarez singled home a run to pull to 4-1. He later scored on a wild pitch. Mexico starter Patricio Juarez struck out 12 in five innings.
Panama scored five runs in the sixth inning — on a passed ball, wild pitch and two RBI singles.
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