Led by a two-hit, two-RBI performance from right fielder Aneury Tavarez, the Dominican Republic baseball team collected a critical victory over Colombia, winning 4-1 in their final preliminary game of the Pan-American Games. 

The game was critical as it helps the Domincan Republic stay alive in their push for a semifinals birth. Four out of seven squads advance out of the preliminary stages into the knockout round. Entering the game the Dominican Republic were 2-3, one game behind the USA for the fourth and final spot. This was after keeping their hopes alive with a huge 6-4 upset of the Americans on Thursday. If the USA loses to the unbeaten Canadian squad tonight, they will fall to 3-3 and, due to tiebreakers, they would cede fourth place to the Dominicans. 

The game got off to a bad start for the Dominicans as Harold Ramirez of Colombia blasted a solo shot, the only home run of the game, off of starting pitcher Kelvin Perez in the first inning. Ramirez had two hits, the only Colombian to do so. However, the Dominicans did not take long to respond, taking the lead for good in the bottom half of the first, plating two runs on an RBI from Victor Mendez and Tavarez.

The Dominicans were led by two hits apiece from Tavarez and Mendez along with hits from Yeixon Ruiz, Pedro Feliz, and Jordy Lara. Perez was excellent after Ramirez's first inning bomb, allowing just three other hits, walking three, striking out five while holding onto his 2-1 lead until his exit after 5.1 innings. Roberto Gomez finished the sixth inning and then watched as his teammates provided insurance, plating two runs in the sixth inning. 

Colombia starting pitcher Randy Consuegra was victimized by shaky defense, including his own, during the game. An error by himself and shortstop Ronald Luna helped the Dominican Republic score two unearned runs. Consuegra had a respectable outing going six innings giving up four runs, two of them earned, on five hits and three walks, while striking out eight. He pitched just as well, if not better, than Perez; but his teammates could not provide any offensive support. Colombia racked up seven hits, the same total as the Dominicans, but grounded into a pair of double plays, had a runner caught stealing, and just couldn't come up with the clutch hit.

Roberto Gomez pitched a scoreless seventh and relievers Pedro de los Santos and Luis Liria combined to pitch the final two innings. Santos went 1.2 scoreless innings to get the hold, and Liria retired the only batter he faced collecting his third save of the tournament. 

The Dominican Republic did their part to get themselves into the knockout rounds on Friday. Now, it's time for them to do some scoreboard watching.