Mexico advances to the WBC Semifinals due to Randy Arozarena’s legendary comparisons on Twitter
There has never been a major moment that Randy Arozarena couldn’t handle.
The ace outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays was instrumental in Mexico’s 5-4 World Baseball Classic victory over Puerto Rico on Friday. He made a fantastic grab in the eighth inning to hold onto his nation’s lead.
There followed a two-run solo album by Isaac Paredes in the bottom of the eighth, and a one-run single by Luis Urias to provide Mexico the 5-4 advantage, rescuing a 4-0 deficit following Puerto Rico leaped all ahead of them in the top of the first.
Mexico advances to the WBC Semifinals due to Randy Arozarena’s legendary comparisons on Twitter.
There has never been a major moment that Randy Arozarena couldn’t handle.
The ace outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays was instrumental in Mexico’s 5-4 World Baseball Classic victory over Puerto Rico on Friday. He made a fantastic grab in the eighth inning to hold onto his nation’s lead.
There followed a two-run solo album by Isaac Paredes in the bottom of the eighth, and a one-run single by Luis Urias to provide Mexico the 5-4 advantage, rescuing a 4-0 deficit following Puerto Rico leaped all ahead of them in the top of the first.
With three RBI and a solo home run, Paredes led Mexico.
Arozarena, though, was the one who ignited baseball Twitter with his enormous outfield catch: Is it shocking that Arozarena came through in a crucial situation? He has played 31 games in the postseason with the Rays, hitting.333 with 23 runs, 11 home runs, and a startling 1.121 OPS. The dude is a marvel of the big game.
In addition, he added the run that tied the score. When the stakes were low, Arozarena had the better hand.
So, Puerto Rico’s talented team is returning home while Mexico keeps up its remarkable streak. As always, Arozarena delivered when it mattered the most.
Scores from the World Baseball Classic: Mexico defeats Puerto Rico after a comeback to get to the semifinals.
Puerto Rico has been eliminated, and Mexico will now take against Japan.
Mexico staged a calculated comeback in their World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matchup against Puerto Rico on Friday night, defeating Puerto Rico 5-4 to advance to the semifinals.
Emmanuel Rivera brought Enrique Hernandez home on a sac fly in the top of the first innings to give Puerto Rico an early lead. After a home run off a 1-2 fastball from Mexico’s starting pitcher Julio Urias, Javier Báez increased that advantage to 3-0.
Eddie Rosario, next in line, hit his second home run of the competition to make it 4-0 in favor of Puerto Rico.
But shortly after, the comeback started. Isaac Paredes put Mexico on the scoreboard with his home run in the second. From that moment on, Marcus Stroman of Puerto Rico, the starting pitcher for the United States in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, cruised till the fifth inning. With one out in that inning, Mexico loaded the bases and scored two runs on a well-timed bloop single. Yadier Molina then summoned on reliever Yacksel Ros, who stopped additional damage with music and a Rowdy Tellez floor into the shift, both of which are still permitted in WBC.
The next crucial moment occurred in the seventh inning when Mexico’s bases were full with no outs against Alexis Daz, the injured brother of Puerto Rico close Edwin Daz and New York Mets closer Edwin Daz. The first two outs of the inning were recorded by Jorge López, who replaced Dáz, but rear singles gave Mexico first ever leader of the game:
Mexico overcame a terrible start and defeated Puerto Rico 5-4 on Friday to attend the World Baseball Classic semifinals for the first time.
Javier Baez and Eddie Rosario hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning to give Puerto Rico a four-run lead in the contest. The Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias, who pitched for Mexico and advanced to the game agonizingly, was destroyed by Puerto Rico. Last season, Urias earned the National League ERA championship.
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