Team USA Shocked By Mexico In Historic Blowout Fashion
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
New York Mets fans were very familiar with Washington Nationals first baseman Joey Meneses at the end of last season. While the Mets were able to hold him in check in eight games (.182/.229/.273, 1 home run, 11 K’s), Team USA was unable to do that on Sunday night. The Team Mexico first baseman went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs as Mexico (1-1) shocked USA, 11-5. They are now 2-1 in three WBC meetings against USA dating back to 2006.
Mexico took the lead in the first inning against Nick Martinez. Randy Arozarena led off the game with an infield single. Two batters later, Meneses hit his first of two home runs, a two-run shot to left-center.
Joey Meneses wastes no time getting the scoring started. #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/hudpm1v8v4
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 13, 2023
Team USA got one of those runs back in the bottom of the second when Tim Anderson had an RBI single that drove in Kyle Tucker (tripled earlier in the inning). That was pretty much all the USA did against starter Patrick Sandoval (3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K’s, 33 of 55 pitches for strikes).
Martinez had settled in a groove after the home run until Mexico added another run in the third due to three two-out singles. Meneses had an infield single, Rowdy Tellez hit a bloop single that just got past Jeff McNeil, and Isaac Paredes was able to reach on an infield single due to the shift being on. That was it for Martinez as went 2 2/3 innings, allowed three runs on five hits, walked a batter, and struck out two on 57 pitches (33 strikes).
In the top of the fourth, Mexico broke the game open against Brady Singer. Arozarena had an RBI double to extend the lead to 4-1. Arozarena had a great night of his own as he was 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs.
Then, after an Alex Verdugo walk, Meneses hit another home run to left center that delighted what appeared to be a pro-Mexico crowd at Chase Field.
BREAK OUT THE HOME RUN SOMBRERO!
Joey Meneses homers AGAIN and Mexico leads USA 7-! pic.twitter.com/lzwnBHyR20
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 13, 2023
Mexico later added four more runs in the eighth against Daniel Bard on an RBI double by Arozarena, a two-run single by Tellez, and an RBI single by Alan Trejo. The 11 runs allowed is tied for the most runs ever allowed in a WBC game by Team USA. With the tiebreaker being runs allowed per out, this kind of result has the potential to hurt their chances of advancing.
Randy Arozarena, electrifying as ever, with *another* RBI.
Mexico 8, United States 2.
Most runs allowed by Team USA in a @WBCBaseball game since 2009, in the 9-4 semifinal loss to Japan. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 13, 2023
The USA offense managed eight hits against Mexico’s pitching. Will Smith hit a solo home run in the seventh and Bobby Witt Jr. had an RBI double in the eighth. Anderson ended up being one of the only bright spots for the team. The White Sox shortstop went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
As far as how the Mets players did, Pete Alonso got the start as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. McNeil was back in the lineup at second base and batting ninth and went 1-for-4 with a single to left in the ninth.
Adam Ottavino did get to pitch in the top of the sixth and made some history of his own in the process:
With Adam Ottavino pitching for USA after playing for Italy in 2009, he’s the 4th player to represent 2 nations at the @WBCBaseball, joining:
Marcus Stroman: USA 17 + PUR 23
Paul Rutgers: Australia 06 + South Africa 09
Bruce Chen: Panama 06, 09 + China 17h/t @EliasSports
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 13, 2023
While Ottavino did walk Austin Barnes to lead off the inning, he got the top of the Mexico lineup out in order to complete the frame, which included getting Arozarena to strike out swinging (nine of 18 pitches for strikes).
Next Game
Team USA (1-1) is back in action on Monday night as it takes on Canada (1-0). You can catch the game at 10 p.m ET on FS1. Mitch Bratt, a left-handed pitching prospect in the Rangers organization, gets the start for Canada against Lance Lynn. Canada picked up its first win on Sunday with an 18-8 victory over Great Britain in seven innings.
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