Mexico 10, Canada 3
PHOENIX, Mar. 15 — Randy Arozarena came through in yet another big game, driving in five while going 2-for-2 with two doubles and two runs scored to lead Mexico to a 10–3 victory over Canada Wednesday afternoon. The result all but eliminates Canada, who would need a blowout Colombia victory over USA to advance. Mexico, with the victory, has won Pool C and has advanced to the quarterfinals in Miami.
Mexico, Canada Both Score Early
Both teams got on the board in the first inning. Mexico left fielder Randy Arozarena opened the game with a controversial hit-by-pitch. The ball appeared to hit both his hand and the bat, and the only question was which one came first. Umpires initially awarded him first base. Canada challenged. The replay was not fully clear, so the call stood.
After right fielder Alex Verdugo lined to his counterpart for the first out, first baseman Joey Meneses hit a swinging bunt up the third base line. Nobody could get to it in time to make a play anywhere, so everybody was safe. A balk advanced the runners to second and third, still with one out. Designated hitter Rowdy Tellez lined a single to right, scoring both runners. Third baseman Isaac Paredes walked but was wiped out when second baseman Luis Rodriguez followed with a 5–4–3 double play groundout. This retired the side with the score 2–0.
Trading Runs
Canada second baseman Edouard Julien led off the bottom of the first with a double to right and advanced to third on a single to center by third baseman Abraham Toro. Tyler O’Neill, the DH, walked. First baseman Jared Young wasted the bases-loaded, no-out opportunity with a high flat to shallow left. It was not deep enough for any runner to advance, but Lopez made sure the baserunners didn’t go to waste with a single to center. But that was the only run Canada got out of it. Catcher Bo Naylor stuck out and right fielder Owen Caissie grounded to second, ending the inning with the bases loaded.
Mexico extended their lead in the top of the second after the first two batters struck out. Catcher Austin Barnes drew a walk and scored when Arozarena followed with a double to right center. Canada narrowed the gap to 3–2 when Bo Naylor led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to left-center.
Mexico Blows It Open
The score remained 3–2 into the top of the sixth. That’s when everything went right for Mexico and everything fell apart for Canada. Second baseman Luis Urias drew a leadoff walk. After shortstop Alan Trejo struck out, Alek Thomas dumped a single to center it was in the Bermuda Triangle. Urias tried to take third on the play The throw to third beat him but was so far wide that third baseman Abraham Toro could not even attempt a tag. Instead, he fired to second, where Thomas tried to take the extra base. The throw was late, giving Mexico runners on second and third with one out.
Catcher Austin Barnes followed with a walk, loading the bases for Arozarena. After missing a grand slam by a few feet foul, he lined a rocket on the ground toward the left-field corner. The double cleared the bases, giving Mexico a 6–2 lead. It became a 7–2 lead after Verdugo advanced Arozarena with a grounder to second and Meneses brought Arozarena home with a single to center.
Result No Longer in Doubt
The score became 9–2 in the top of the seventh. Urias was hit by a pitch before Trejo legged out an infield hit toward third. A wild pitch advanced them to second and third with nobody out for Thomas, who hit a grounder to first. Jared Young, starting in place of the injured Freddie Freeman, threw home in time for Bo Naylor to tag the diving Urias for the first out. After Thomas stole second, Barnes walked, loading the bases again for Arozarena again. This time he did not get an extra-base hit. Instead, he got hit by the pitch, forcing in another run. He stood at home plate talking to the catcher before heading to first. The score became 9–2 on the next batter, when Verdugo hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Canada got one of those runs back in the bottom of the seventh. Center fielder Denzel Clarke and left fielder Jacob Robson struck out swinging and looking, respectively, before Julien belted a homer to right. Abraham Toro walked, but Tyler O’Neill struck out to leave him on base. Tellez homered to right in the top of the eighth to finalize the score.
Postgame Reflections — Canada
Canada manager Ernie Whitt, despite the loss, feels good about the direction the national team is going. “I’m very excited about it. I think we have some really good young players that are coming. It showed a little bit today, inexperience.” His voice started to quiver as he continued. “But I’m proud of every guy in that room. They played the game the way it was supposed to be played, with pride and passion. What more can you ask for?”
Canada fell victim to atom balls. Whitt pointed it out but didn’t lament it, saying, “We hit the ball hard today. Every time we hit the ball hard, it seemed like it was at somebody. We have days like that. It just didn’t pan out for us this time.”
Whitt had praise for Julien, the Minnesota Twins prospect who had a great tournament. “He’s very capable of being an All-Star in the big leagues. He continues to improve his defense. You go back and look at his track record at college, he’s tied some records for the best hitter. It shows. Plus, he’s what I call a gamer. He plays hard every play and doesn’t take a play off. I think he’s got a real good career ahead of him.”
Whitt was asked if he’d continue managing the team as it prepares for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. With a sigh and a smile, Whitt said, “I don’t know. That’s too far down the line. We’ll see. I love the game and want to stay a part of it in some capacity, whether it’s managing or whether it’s just watching it, too. I’ve been doing this for over 50 years professionally and 20-some years at the Canadian level. It’s hard to say. I’m not ready to make that decision yet.”
Postgame Reflections — Mexico
Mexico has advanced to the next round for the first time in 14 years. Manager Benji Gil said, “We are very happy what we have accomplished so far, but I’m not done yet. I’m not satisfied yet. We did the first step, but we still need three more steps.” He noted that Mexico’s opponent will be the winner of Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, which was taking place as Gil gave the press conference. Gil said he hopes there’s Wi-Fi on the airplane so he can start studying them.
Arozarena set a Team Mexico record for WBC play with nine RBI in pool play. He said about the feat, “I don’t play to break records, but to help the team. The records will come by themselves if I just do my best in the field.”
After he hit the double, fans were chanting his name. About that, he said, “I feel very happy. The fans make me happy every time they clap for me, every time they chant my name. Everything I do, I try to do it at 100 percent in the field. That they feel represented by me makes me play 100 percent of my capacity.”
Looking Ahead
Mexico will play the winner of Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic Saturday at 7 pm Eastern. At press time, the game was still being played.
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