The World Baseball Classic on Monday erupted in controversy after Mexico were eliminated from the competition after an unsuccessful protest over a rules mix-up.
Mexico believed they had done enough to earn a place in Monday’s playoff against Italy for a second-round berth after upsetting Venezuela 11-9 in a nail-biting battle late on Sunday.
However, Mexico were informed early on Monday by organizers that Venezuela would advance to the playoff against Italy.
The decision hinged on a key ruling regarding average runs conceded per inning in head-to-head group play.
Mexico had conceded an average of 1.12 runs per inning; Venezuela 1.11 and Italy 1.05.
However news of the rule’s interpretation infuriated Mexico players and officials, who claimed they had been given contrary advice before Sunday’s game.
Both the World Baseball Classic and Major League Baseball on Twitter said that Mexico would advance to Monday’s tiebreaker with Italy. Both posts were later deleted.
Mexico’s Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez took to Twitter to vent his fury at the blunder.
“We were told before the game if we win by two, we play tomorrow [Monday],” Gonzalez wrote, criticizing the methodology that saw Venezuela advance to the playoff instead of Mexico.
“We win by two and lose by one, Venezuela loses by 2 and wins by 1? Way to set up a tournament,” Gonzalez added, directing barbs at Major League Baseball.
“Looks like some rules makers cannot go by their own rules,” he added.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care