Mexico motivated after defeating Canada and advancing to WBC quarterfinals
When the World Baseball Classic started final week, Pool C was considered because the United States and all people else. Team USA, the defending champion, was the overwhelming favourite for good purpose. The group of place gamers is unmatched. The pitching employees is among the event’s greatest.
But Mexico shocked the U.S. on Sunday to rebound from a group-opening loss in opposition to Colombia. And on Wednesday, the Mexicans accomplished their turnaround, thrashing Canada 10-3 to win the pool and advance to the quarterfinals of the event for the primary time ever. Mexico will play Puerto Rico on Friday in Miami.
Puerto Rico superior by eliminating the Dominican Republic, one of many event favorites, with a 5-2 win. The victory was soured, nonetheless, when All-Star nearer Edwin Díaz was taken off the sphere in a wheelchair after injuring his proper knee in celebration. The New York Mets, Díaz’s father or mother membership, mentioned he will likely be endure testing Thursday.
Team USA later joined Mexico within the quarterfinals out of the pool, beating Colombia 3-2 to advance. Mike Trout led the best way, going three for 4 with a triple and three RBI. The U.S., like Mexico, completed group play 3-1, however misplaced the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Americans will play Venezuela, the Group D winner, Saturday.
That Mexico misplaced to Colombia and received the opposite three video games in pool play highlights the workforce’s depth. The first sport was the one they had been alleged to win. Why? Because Julio Urías, the nation’s brightest star, obtained the beginning with the hopes that he’d pitch within the quarterfinals.
“We are very happy with what we have accomplished so far, but I’m not done yet,” Mexico supervisor Benji Gil mentioned. “ I’m not satisfied yet. We did the first step.”
Gil confirmed the plan continues to be for the Dodgers’ left-hander to begin in Miami — with a caveat.
“We have to clarify a little bit with the Dodgers, but, definitely, Julio will go,” Gil mentioned in Spanish. “I don’t want to give incorrect information. But there will be a conversation with the Dodgers. Just to clarify and be synchronized with exactly how many pitches they’re comfortable with him throwing.”
Urías threw 62 pitches over 5 innings in opposition to Colombia final Saturday. Gil mentioned he may see Urías taking up an identical workload Friday. Pitchers had been restricted to 65 pitches per outing in pool play. The quantity rises to 80 for the quarterfinal spherical and to 95 within the semifinals and finals.
“Of course we’re going to try to win,” Gil mentioned, “but we’re not going to jeopardize one of our biggest baseball stars.”
Mexico pitcher Julio Urías throws in opposition to Colombia in the course of the first inning of a World Baseball Classic sport in Phoenix on March 11.
(Godofredo A. Vásquez / Associated Press)
One of the most important stars of the event has been Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena, a Cuba native who grew to become a Mexico citizen after defecting.
The Tampa Bay Rays standout, whose historic 2020 postseason fueled the membership to a World Series look in opposition to the Dodgers, reached base in all 5 of his plate appearances Wednesday. Batting leadoff, he hit two doubles, obtained hit by two pitches and walked as soon as with 5 RBI. He completed group play seven for 14 with 5 doubles and 9 RBI.
Arozarena, 28, is understood for his cowboy boots. He donned a sombrero within the dugout at some point and a lucha libre masks one other. His refined celebration — dramatically folding his arms after an enormous hit — was mimicked across the ballpark. He signed autographs for followers in left area throughout a pitching change within the eighth inning Wednesday.
“I saw him,” Mexico first baseman Rowdy Tellez mentioned. “It was a giant glove [he was signing]. They keep asking me about it, but I just tell them it’s Randy. He’s got his boots on. He’s just Randy Arozarena.”
Tellez, a slugger with the Milwaukee Brewers, went two for 3 with a house run and two walks Wednesday. He completed group play with a .353 batting common.
“It’s been really special,” mentioned Tellez, who grew up exterior of Sacramento with a Mexican father. “Beating Team USA was a crazy moment. Never played in an environment like that.”
The ambiance in Miami guarantees to be as electrical. Mexico and the U.S. will arrive three wins from a championship.