In the World Baseball Classic semifinals, Mexico Defeats Puerto Rico
To win a 5-4 victory in front of a packed house at Loan Depot Park on Friday night’s quarterfinal, Mexico rallied from a late deficit against a star-studded Puerto Rico team by stringing together a three-run seventh inning. For the first time in its previous five World Baseball Classic participation, Mexico progressed to the semifinals. In the semifinal matchup on Monday, it will compete against Japan.
Julio Urias, a Mexican ace, was faced in the first inning, Puerto Rico, playing in the wake of Edwin Diaz’s devastating knee injury, surged out to a 4-0 lead thanks to back-to-back home runs by Javier Baez and Eddie Rosario. However, Puerto Rico struggled to score for the remainder of the game, and Mexico finally closed the distance while needing to use its final seven outs.
His brother’s iconic walk-out song “Narco” played as Alexis Diaz took the mound. Still he quickly loaded the bases with no outs, allowing Austin Barnes to double and Randy Arozarena and Alex Verdugo to walk back-to-back. Jorge Lopez exited the bullpen and promptly recorded two outs. But Mexico took the lead for the first time in the game when Luis Urias drove a base hit into shallow right, and Isaac Paredes blasted a two-run single to left field.
As Emmanuel Rivera launched a long shot, a first-base runner, and a throw to left-center field in the eighth inning, Puerto Rico had a chance to equalize the score. A Miami crowd that appeared mainly in favor of Puerto Rico was stunned by Arozarena sprinting into the space and making a tremendous leaping catch-up against the fence.
Arozarena, a Cuban-born outfielder who defected to Mexico in 2016, sat down on the warning track as the ball was thrown back into the infield and stretched his arms out wide with his palms exposed and his mouth open. It is one of his hallmark poses.
