Phoenix –
Randy Arrozarena scored two doubles and five runs, Rowdy Telles hit a two-run single and solo homer, and Mexico beat Canada 10-3 Wednesday to qualify for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. Did.
With the win, Canada had a chance to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time. Instead, the Canadians appeared eliminated after five straight tournaments of pool play, with the exception of a highly unlikely outcome in the final Pool C game.
“I think we’ve got some really good young players coming in. I think the inexperience showed a little bit today,” said Canadian manager Ernie Witt.
“But I’m proud of everyone in that room. They played the game the way it was supposed to. They played with pride and passion. What more could you ask for?” Can you do it?
“I mean, I hit the ball hard today.
Canada will be eliminated if the US wins Colombia later on Wednesday. If Columbia upsets, the United States, Canada and Colombia would be tied 2-2 for her.
The winner of that tiebreak will be the team with the fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs in games against other tied teams. This would be an extreme long shot for Canada to move forward after her 12-1 loss to the United States. on monday.
Mexico opened the tournament with a surprise loss to Group C’s Colombia at Chase Field, but recovered to a three-game winning streak by defeating the United States, Great Britain and Canada.
Jose Urquidy gave up 2 runs in 4 innings and took 5 for the win. Arrozarena, his 2021 AL Rookie of the Year for the Tampa Bay Rays, hit a double in the sixth inning to bring the game to a halt and give Mexico his 6–2 lead.
Canada’s leading hitter Edouard Julien had two hits, including a solo home run in the seventh, while catcher Beau Naylor hit a solo homer.
“I think he could very well be an All-Star in the big leagues,” Witt said of Julian, a prospective second baseman in the Minnesota Twins’ system. “Like I said, he keeps improving his defense. increase.
“Besides that, he’s what I call a gamer. He plays hard every game. He doesn’t make the playoffs. I think he has a really great career ahead of him.”
Rob Zastrisny lost after giving up three runs in two innings.
Canada played without Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman, who missed Tuesday’s game with a hamstring injury.
Canada finished the pool 2-2, beating Great Britain and Colombia before losing to the United States and Mexico.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published on March 15, 2023.
