PANAMA CITY, Panama - The defending champion United States baseball team failed to qualify for the 2004 Athens Olympics, stunned by Mexico 2-1 Friday in a qualifying tournament.
The U.S. team was among the favorites to win the gold medal again, and there was a chance Roger Clemens would have pitched for the Americans.
The underdog Mexican team defeated Hall of Famer Frank Robinson's club in the quarterfinal game, getting a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning from Luis A. Garcia off Brian Bruney.
Bruney had 26 saves in the Arizona Diamondbacks (news)' minor league system this season.
The United States threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting two runners on base. Reliever Isidro Marquez got the final two outs to preserve the victory.
Justin Leone of the Seattle system homered for the Americans' only run. Former major leaguer Ernie Young played in the loss. The U.S. roster also included Atlanta rookie pitcher Horacio Ramirez and former big leaguers Mike Lamb and Todd Williams.
Unlike basketball, the biggest stars in the United States do not play Olympic baseball, jeopardizing the sport's future in the Games.
The U.S. team went 3-0 in pool play while Mexico lost all three games. But Mexico advanced when the Bahamas forfeited by failing to show up.
The two finalists in this tournament will reach the Olympics. Canada and Colombia will meet Saturday for the right to play Mexico on Sunday to determine one of the spots. Cuba is the favorite for the other spot.
Baseball was a demonstration in the Olympics in 1984 and became a medal sport in 1996, when Cuba won the gold medal in Atlanta.
In 2000, Tom Lasorda managed a team that included Ben Sheets and Doug Mientkiewicz to the gold at Sydney in the first tournament that included professionals.
The U.S. team was among the favorites to win the gold medal again, and there was a chance Roger Clemens would have pitched for the Americans.
The underdog Mexican team defeated Hall of Famer Frank Robinson's club in the quarterfinal game, getting a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning from Luis A. Garcia off Brian Bruney.
Bruney had 26 saves in the Arizona Diamondbacks (news)' minor league system this season.
The United States threatened in the bottom of the ninth, putting two runners on base. Reliever Isidro Marquez got the final two outs to preserve the victory.
Justin Leone of the Seattle system homered for the Americans' only run. Former major leaguer Ernie Young played in the loss. The U.S. roster also included Atlanta rookie pitcher Horacio Ramirez and former big leaguers Mike Lamb and Todd Williams.
Unlike basketball, the biggest stars in the United States do not play Olympic baseball, jeopardizing the sport's future in the Games.
The U.S. team went 3-0 in pool play while Mexico lost all three games. But Mexico advanced when the Bahamas forfeited by failing to show up.
The two finalists in this tournament will reach the Olympics. Canada and Colombia will meet Saturday for the right to play Mexico on Sunday to determine one of the spots. Cuba is the favorite for the other spot.
Baseball was a demonstration in the Olympics in 1984 and became a medal sport in 1996, when Cuba won the gold medal in Atlanta.
In 2000, Tom Lasorda managed a team that included Ben Sheets and Doug Mientkiewicz to the gold at Sydney in the first tournament that included professionals.
