Mexico doesn’t give up, rallies late past Puerto Rico in WBC
It is an established rivalry in boxing thanks to the epic bouts between fighters from Mexico and Puerto Rico throughout the years.
On Friday night, the rivalry transcended to the baseball diamond. And, similar to the dramatic turns of memorable fights, Mexico absorbed the early knockdowns only to punch its way back to a dramatic comeback victory.
Isaac Paredes homered and singled as Mexico erased a four-run deficit and beat Puerto Rico 5-4 in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game at loanDepot Park.
The win advances Mexico to the tournament semifinals against Japan on Monday night.
Down 4-2, Mexico tied it on Paredes’ two-run single in the seventh. Luis Urias followed with a go-ahead single.
Homers from Javier
Baez and Eddie Rosario helped Puerto Rico ambush Mexico starter Julio Urias with a four-run first. Baez hit a two-run shot that made it 3-0 and Rosario followed with a firstpitch drive over the wall in center.
But Puerto Rico’s offense stalled after the quick outburst. Urias and four relievers kept Puerto Rico in check the final eight innings.
Paredes put Mexico on the board with a solo homer in the second. Mexico narrowed it again in the fifth on Alex Verdugo’s RBI single.
Puerto Rico used the freakish injury sustained by star closer Edwin Diaz as a motivator in the lead-up to Friday.
Diaz tore the patella tendon in his right knee while he and his teammates celebrated on the field after Puerto Rico’s quarterfinalqualifying victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday. Diaz underwent surgery Thursday and is expected to miss the entire major-league season.
The United States, which finished second in Pool C, will play Pool D winner Venezuela in the second quarterfinal Saturday.