| | |  Americas & Beyond | March 2009 
Revenge Sweet for Mexico, Venezuela as US, Aussies Fall at Baseball Classic
 Agence France-Presse
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| | Miguel Ojeda (right) congratulates Augie Ojeda after scoring on a two-run single by Edgar Gonzalez of Mexico in the fourth inning against Australia, during the 2009 World Baseball Classic Pool B match on March 11, at the Estadio Foro Sol in Mexico City. Mexico advanced with a 16-1 win. (AFP/Kevork Djansezian) | |
Toronto – Mexico took the final second-round berth in the World Baseball Classic by avenging a humiliating loss to Australia while Venezuela claimed vengeance for another blowout by defeating the United States.
Karim Garcia went 4-for-4 with two home runs, scoring four times and driving in four more runs to power the inspired hosts' 16-1 romp over Australia in a game halted after just six innings under a mercy blowout rule.
"It was fantastic after starting off on the wrong foot," said Mexico manager Vinny Castilla. "I didn't expect anything close to that. I was expecting a much closer game. But that's what baseball is like. We really killed them."
Three days after the Aussies had a record 22 hits in a 17-7 win over Mexico that was stopped after eight innings, Mexico joined Japan, South Korea and Cuba in a round two group that opens double-elimination play Sunday at San Diego.
"We've played very good baseball. We were very disappointing tonight. It wasn't the way we wanted to finish," Australia manager Jon Deeble said a night after his team came within four outs of upsetting Cuba before falling 5-4.
"I wouldn't say it was a success because we didn't get to the second round. Did we get better? Yes. Are we going to get better? Yes. We've still got a way to go. We took a big step forward. There's no doubt about that."
Venezuela downed the US Major League Baseball stars 5-3 just three days after the North Americans trounced the South Americans 15-6 to reach round two. Venezuela manager Luis Sojo called the victory vital to his team's title hopes.
"Venezuela was always waiting for this win after they clobbered us. I think that was a wake-up call," Sojo said. "We had to make a statement. It was a very important game and we did make a statement."
US manager Davey Johnson was concerned about his players shaking off the rust after two days off following the Venezuela victory. While not thrilled to lose, he hopes the work pays off in the second round at Miami.
"I think everybody was feeling like it was a day to get some work in," said Johnson. "It's not a big deal win or lose. We still got to win two games in Miami. It doesn't matter whether we're the one seed or two seed."
Together with Puerto Rico's 5-0 blanking of home giant-killer Netherlands - still recovering emotionally from ousting powerhouse Dominican Republic a day before - the results set pairings for Saturday's second-round Miami openers.
The Dutch will meet Venezuela in the first game while the nightcap pits the unbeaten Puerto Ricans against a US squad hungry to improve on a second-round exit from the 2006 inaugural Classic.
"You understand it's a short tournament. Every game is important so you have to come out with intensity every game," US star Derek Jeter said.
Gregor Blanco pounded out three hits to spark Venezuela while catcher Henry Blanco smashed a home run and threw out potential tying run Jeter on a steal attempt in the ninth inning to kill a US comeback bid.
"It gave us the confidence to get to Miami and know we can compete against the USA or any other team," Venezuela's Marco Scutaro said.
Dutch giant killers were spent after a 2-1 upset for the ages that put them in the last eight.
"It's still David and Goliath. We're still David," said Dutch manager Rod Delmonico. "We got some rocks in our pocket. We have been hitting the target pretty regularly. But I don't think there's a team that we're going to go up against from here on that we're better than on paper." |
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