PANAMA CITY, Panama -- Ryan Madsen pitched five scoreless innings and the United States cruised to a 3-0 victory Wednesday night over Panama late for its third consecutive victory in the Americas pre-Olymipic baseball tournament.

Panama's Lenin Picota was matching Madsen until the fifth inning, when Mike Rouse doubled to deep right-center to drive in Chris Burke, who had doubled.

Madsen allowed only two hits, struck out seven and walked one. J.D. Durbin pitched two innings and then Bryan Bruney took over. He plowed through Panama in the final two innings while surrendering just one hit and striking out six.

Picota pitched seven strong innings, but the two doubles by Rouse and Burke were his downfall. He was relieved by Rolando Herrera, who allowed one run on a single by Rouse and a double by Graham Koonce in the eighth.

Manuel Corpas came in the ninth inning and gave up a homer to Ernie Young, who had struck out in his first three plate appearances.

The United States finished first in the round-robin tournament's Group B. Panama, 3-1, took second, followed by Colombia and Brazil, all of whom advanced to the quarterfinals that get under way Friday. Only Nicaragua, which finished last in the group at 0-4, was eliminated.

Earlier Wednesday, Cuba topped Canada 7-2 to take first place in Group A. That group had all four of its teams qualify for the second round because the Bahamas forfeited its games by failing to show up in Panama's capital for the tournament at the last minute.

Canada moved on with a 2-1 mark, good enough for second place in the group. Puerto Rico, 1-3, finished third and Mexico, which went winless in its three games, was fourth.

The tournament's top-two finishers will qualify for next year's Olympics in Athens.