Argentina and Nicaragua will meet in a crucial clash, leaving New Zealand and Pakistan behind

PANAMA — Argentina can continue to dream in its first qualifier for the World Baseball Classic.

The South Americans (2-1) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to turn the scoreboard and beat New Zealand 4-1, which will set them up on Tuesday to face Nicaragua — which beat Pakistan by 12 before its share. 0– in the main fight to access the contention of one of the last two tickets for the fifth edition of the Clasico next year.

A setback would have sent the gauchos home.

In what had been a pitchers’ battle until the sixth inning after Chayton Krause trailed 1-0 after a solo home run, the Argentine made his decisive rally by subbing a rival reliever.

Elliott Johnstone walked Lucas Ngandagare and Jose Gerres and struck out Andres Kim. With no outs and a full house, Lucas Stallman went 1-1 with rookie Ryota Okumoto at Nkandagare. Sebastian Garcia was hit and Gerres scored in the second, while Kim Connor scored in the third on a wild pitch by Gleason, who relieved Okumoto. Stallman struck out in the fourth after another walk.

In the first match, Steven Leighton and Isaac Benard put in a strong performance as Nicaragua beat Pakistan by a run in seven innings.

Leighton scored two runs and drove in three, while Benard had four runs, including a home run. It was Nicaragua’s first win in the one-day tie after falling 4-1 to Brazil.

Right-hander Osman Gutierrez (1-0) combined with three relievers to allow just four hits for Pakistan (0-2), which was eliminated.

On Tuesday, Brazil (2-0) and Panama (1-0) measure up for the first ticket. The loser of that match will face the winner of Argentina-Nicaragua the following day to decide the second ticket.

Great Britain and the Czech Republic qualified in another tie in Germany recently. First classified in Panama will complete Group C of next year’s tournament in Phoenix, which will include the United States -reigning champions- Mexico, Colombia and Canada. The second seed will join Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Israel in Group D in Miami.