Mets' Diaz injures knee celebrating Puerto Rico win
All-Star closer Edwin Díaz of the New York Mets was taken off the field in a wheelchair after appearing to seriously injure his right leg celebrating Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night at Miami.
Díaz was swarmed by teammates after pitching a perfect ninth inning in a 5-2 win that clinched Puerto Rico a spot in the WBC quarterfinals. The group was jumping together in the infield when Díaz collapsed to the ground, and he immediately reach for his right leg.
Díaz was in tears and did not put any weight on his right leg as a coach and trainer helped him limp toward the dugout.
Díaz's brother, Alexis, was also crying as Edwin was wheeled away. Mets teammate and Puerto Rico shortstop Francisco Lindor stood nearby with his hands on his head.
The 28-year-old righthander is a two-time AllStar and two-time reliever of the year. He converted 32 saves for the Mets last season with a 1.31 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 62 innings.
He's a fan favorite in New York as much for his catchy, trumpet-heavy entrance music as his dominant pitching.
CUBA 4, AUSTRALIA 3 ❯❯ Cuba earned a 7,500-mile flight to Miami for a trip to the semifinals for the first time since 2006.
“Cuban baseball fans are so emotional right now.
They have been waiting for a long time at the moment,” manager Armando Johnson said after a 4-3 win over Australia in Tokyo. “This is the new page, new chapter.”
Alfredo Despaigne hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and Yoelkis Guibert followed with a two-run single in three-run fifth inning.
Using current major leaguers for the first time at the WBC, Cuba plays on Sunday in Marlins Park against the winner of a quarterfinal between Venezuela and the second-place team from Group C: Canada, Colombia, Mexico or the U.S.
Former Phillies prospect Rixon Wingrove, who led Australia with seven RBIs in the tournament, hit a go-ahead RBI sngle in the second and had a two-run homer in the sixth off the Chicago Cubs' Roenis Elías. Australia got two on later in the sixth before Elías retired Milwaukee Brewers prospect Alex Hall on a flyout.
MEXICO 10, CANADA 3 ❯❯ Randy Arozarena had two doubles and five RBIs, Rowdy Tellez added a tworun single and solo homer, and Mexico pulled away late from Canada to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Mexico started the tournament with a surprising loss to Colombia in Group C at Chase Field but rallied with three straight wins, beating the U.S., Britain and Canada.
VENEZUELA 5, ISRAEL 1 ❯❯ Eugenio Suárez homered, singled twice and had three RBIs and starter Jesús Luzardo struck out five in four scoreless innings to lead Venezuela, which already had clinched the Group D title and a quarterfinal berth. Ronald Acuña Jr. had two singles while Eduardo Escobar also went deep for Venezuela, which finished with 10 hits in the game at Miami.