Luis Urías hit the go-ahead single in a three-run seventh inning that fueled Mexico’s 5-4 comeback victory over Puerto Rico to advance to its first-ever World Baseball Classic semifinals.
Mexico will face Shohei Ohtani and Japan in the semifinals Monday. Puerto Rico failed to make it past the second round for the first time.
Isaac Paredes, who homered earlier, tied it at 4 with a single off losing pitcher Alexis Díaz that drove in Austin Barnes and Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena.
Puerto Rico tried to rally in the ninth with singles from Christian Vazquez and Francisco Lindor, but reliever Giovanny Gallegos got out of the jam for the save.
Arozarena saved the potential tying run in the eighth when he made a leaping catch at the wall in left center.
Puerto Rico was coming off an emotional quarterfinals-clinching victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, when New York Mets star closer Edwin Díaz tore the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating the win. The sellout crowd of 35,817 at loanDepot park in Miami cheered when Diaz’s jersey appeared on the Jumbotron.
Javier Baez and Eddie Rosario homered off Mexico starter Julio Urías in a four-run first inning.
Rosario hit his second home run of the tournament. Baez, in one of his best games of the event, had three hits, giving him seven total.
Urías allowed five hits and four runs and struck out four before he was lifted after the fourth inning at 60 pitches, which is 20 fewer than the WBC quarterfinals pitch limit of 80.
JoJo Romero got the win.
Paredes made it 4-1 in the second when he homered against Marcus Stroman, which was one of Mexico’s five hits off Puerto Rico’s starter.
Stroman allowed three singles in the fifth, one of which drove in a run for Mexico to make it 4-2. He had two strikeouts in 4 1-3 innings.
Puerto Rico finished second in the past two WBCs. Earlier in this tournament, its pitchers turned in an all-time performance against Israel in pool play with an eight-inning perfect game.
Mexico won group C with a 3-1 record in pool play.
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14 Comments
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SaikoPhysco
I live in Japan, I'm American and would root for Japan over the USA but if the finals came down to Mexico vs Japan, I'd root for Mexico. My loyalty is more towards the growth of Baseball at this point than borders. If Mexico were to win this Baseball Classic my hope is that it would spark further interest in Mexico. I really wanted China to beat Japan... that would have made National Headlines in China and possibly sparked more interest in the sport there. That said, if I was a betting man, I'd have my money on Japan... but my heart would be with the USA.
thepersoniamnow
A wonderful analysis of your personal preferences Saikopsycho.
Hakman
Why would you not want your country's team to win?
Baseball is already highly popular in Mexico.
I don't ever want China to win at anything. Just my feeling.
If your heart would be with the USA, why did you earlier say you'd be rooting for Japan over the USA?
Zizi
ABJ
Come on Mexico!
Sal Affist
I'm seriously impressed with Mexico beating both the USA and Puerto Rico. We've seen Mexico's other pitcher, Patrick Sandoval, on those Japan-broadcasted Angels games, and he has quality stuff betrayed only by an inconsistent-hitting team. Put him on a team like the Dodgers or Astros and he'd be considered an elite thrower.
Texas A&M Aggie
Future headline: Japan ends WBC quest with loss to Mexico
garypen
The semifinal against Mexico will most likely be much tougher for Japan than the group games and quarter final.
But, there's certainly no reason to believe that they can't beat Mexico. Japan has demonstrated timely hitting, speedy baserunning, and solid pitching.
I'm not sure why so many here insist on Japan baseball bashing. They are without a doubt among the best in this year's lineup of teams. And, they certainly have what it takes to go all the way, as do a handful of the other teams.
The next four games should all be pretty good, regardless of who ends up in the final. Although, I'm certainly hoping for a USA-Japan matchup, as I imagine many are.
rcch
Must be tiring to support all the opponents of the Japanese team… China, South Korea, Czech Republic, Australia, Italy, Mexico… (…) (…) (…) (…)
Good luck, Japan.
Lord Dartmouth
There are really only two countries that play baseball: Japan and America. Why bother with a World Cup?
NOMINATION
Tell that to people in the Caribbean, Latin America, Korea, Canada, and Taiwan.
Jimizo
An exaggeration. It isn’t a sport played seriously at a high level in too many countries, but more than two. I suppose the number of professional leagues and viewership could be good indicators.
Maybe you are seeing ‘World Cup’ from the perspective of a football World Cup which is unfair - that is the behemoth.
They have clearly padded this tournament out ( Britain? ) but you can see the effort to try and make the sport more popular globally.
That’s fair enough.
qazwsx
Japan-only country to reach all 5 semifinals
Mexico- first time in the semis
Gotta bet on Japan but with big Latin support from the Miami crowd, and 1 game winner take all you never can tell.
USA x Cuba in Miami should be a blast too.
Yrral
Viva Mexico,Adeente Siempre Adelente
SaikoPhysco
@Hakman... you're right, my mind got a bit twisted around. Ultimately, the Heart wants the USA to win but, again, for the sake of baseball growth overall, I'd like to see Mexico.... or even China, take the whole thing. The series has been great so far, but imagine if it got as big as the World Cup.