MIAMI — Luis Urías hit the starting gun in a three-run seventh inning that fueled Mexico’s 5-4 comeback win over Puerto Rico to advance to its first-ever World Baseball Classic semifinals.
Mexico is confronted Shhei Ohtani and Japan in the semifinals Monday. Puerto Rico did not make it past the second round for the first time.
“What a game. I don’t have a hat with me, but I would tip Puerto Rico if I did,” said Mexico coach Benji Gil. “We fought until the end. Thank God we got a win against a great team won.”
Isaac Paredeswho homed early equalized at 4 with a single off pitcher Alexis Díaz driving in Austin Barnes and outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays Randy Arozarena.
Puerto Rico tried to break away with individuals in ninth place Christian Vazquez And Francisco Lindorbut relief Giovanni Gallegos came out of the traffic jam for the rescue.
Arozarena saved the potential tie in the eighth when he made a jump catch on the center left wall.
“We know what kind of player Randy is. He’s a great player. He killed us,” said Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina. “We couldn’t score. But they played very well. We started very strong but then the Mexican pitching made some adjustments and kept us clean.”
Puerto Rico was coming off an emotional quarterfinal win over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday when New York Mets star Edwin Díaz, closing in, tore a patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating the win. A sell-out crowd of 35,817 at LoanDepot Park in Miami cheered as Diaz’ jersey appeared on the Jumbotron.
Javier Baez And Eddie Rosario Homer beat Mexican starter Julio Urías in a four-run first inning.
Rosario hit his second home run of the tournament. Baez had three hits in one of his best games of the event, giving him seven overall.
“We had a very difficult start to the game but we know what a team we have and how united we are,” said Paredes. “There were still many innings left and we reacted at zero hour.”
Urías allowed five hits and four runs and knocked out four before being lifted after the fourth inning with 60 pitches, which is 20 short of the WBC Quarterfinals pitch limit of 80.
Jo Jo Romero got the win.
Paredes made it 4-1 in the second when he scored against Markus Stromanthat was one of Mexico’s five hits from Puerto Rico’s appetizer.
Stroman allowed three individuals in the fifth round, one of which drove Mexico 4-2 in one run. He had two strikeouts in 4 1-3 innings.
Puerto Rico has finished second at the last two WBCs. Earlier in the tournament, the pitchers put on an all-time performance against Israel in pool with a perfect eight-inning game.
Mexico won Group C with a record 3-1 in pool play.
Urías leads Mexico 5-4 over Puerto Rico to the WBC semifinals originally appeared on NBCSports.com
Source : sports.yahoo.com