Adrian Gonzalez blasted a home run and drove in three runs as Mexico shocked the US 5-2 on Friday in a stunning first-round upset at the World Baseball Classic.
Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the third inning plus a run-scoring ground out while Luis Cruz hit two run-scoring sacrifice fly outs to provide all the runs Mexico needed.
“I was just looking for something I could hit,” Gonzalez said. “I was just able to stay on that pitch and luckily the ball went out.”
Mexican pitchers baffled a star-studded US lineup, scattering eight hits while striking out 10, with right-hander Yovani Gallardo striking out four US batters over 3-1/3 innings and Luis Mendoza striking out three in two innings.
“The pitching staff was amazing for us,” Gonzalez said. “To hold the US to two runs is unbelievable.”
Mexican pitchers silenced a formidable US batting lineup, the Americans not managing an extra-base hit until Jimmy Rollins hit a two-out double in the seventh.
The Americans were a disappointment in the first two Classics, going out in the second round in 2006 and the semi-finals in 2009, but more was expected of this year’s lineup, the last of 16 teams to play a Classic opener this year.
Mexico needed the triumph after squandering a ninth-inning lead in a 6-5 loss on Thursday to Italy.
The upstart Italians ripped Canada 14-4 on Friday to stand 2-0 in first round Group D with the European champions set to face the Americans yesterday while Mexico were to meet Canada. A US-Canada game today completes round-robin play.
Friday’s other game saw Group C hosts Puerto Rico blank Spain 3-0.
US starting pitcher R.A. Dickey, a knuckleballer who was voted the National League’s top hurler, surrendered four runs on six hits over four innings. He gave up only four first-inning runs all of last season, but allowed Mexico two.
Eduardo Arredondo singled, took third on Ramiro Pena’s double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cruz. Pena then scored on a Gonzalez ground out.
Gonzalez tagged Dickey for the homer to centerfield with two outs in the third inning to give Mexico a 4-0 lead.
David Wright’s run-scoring single in the fourth inning put the Americans on the scoreboard, but Mexico answered in the fifth, Arredondo scoring on another Cruz sacrifice fly to put Mexico 5-1 ahead.
Eric Hosmer singled in a run to pull the Americans closer.
However, Mexico closing relief pitcher Sergio Romo struck out Adam Jones and induced ground outs from Jonathon Lucroy and Rollins in the ninth inning to complete the victory.
Italy took a major step toward advancing by routing Canada in a game halted after eight innings by the 10-run mercy rule.
Italy’s Chris Colabello smacked a three-run home run in a 4-for-5 batting effort, driving in three runs and scoring three times while Mike Costanzo hit a two-run double and Mario Chiarini singled in a run to spark a five-run eighth.
At San Juan, St Louis Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran sparked a three-run first inning that powered Puerto Rico’s triumph.
Beltran blasted a run-scoring line drive single to right field, took third on a run-scoring sacrifice fly from Mike Aviles and scored when Carlos Rivera walked with the bases loaded.
Puerto Rico were due to play Venezuela yesterday, who dropped their Group C opener 9-3 on Friday to the Dominican Republic, who were due to meet Spain yesterday.
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