Mexico comes back to beat puerto rico in the quarterfinal, a breakdown
What Happened
In the quarterfinal matchup of the World Baseball Classic, Puerto Rico holds a 4-2 lead over Mexico in the bottom of the seventh inning. Puerto Rico's Javier Báez leads off with a hustle double, putting the team in scoring position with no outs. Mexico's star outfielder Randy Arozarena then steps up to the plate, but fails to get the big hit, striking out after fouling off several pitches. With the bases now loaded, Puerto Rico manager Luis Rojas brings in reliever José Alvarado to try to close out the inning. Alvarado struggles to find the strike zone, walking designated hitter Rowdy Tellez to force in a run and tie the game at 4-4. Mexico's Dominic Fletcher then delivers the go-ahead, two-run single to right field, giving Mexico a 6-4 lead. As the Puerto Rico dugout reacts with frustration, the eighth inning begins with the teams trading chances. In the top of the eighth, Puerto Rico's Emmanuel Rivera hits a hard liner, but Arozarena makes a spectacular diving catch to save a run. The Puerto Rico dugout erupts, with manager Rojas angrily slamming his helmet in disbelief after the stellar defensive play. Arozarena calmly walks to the bullpen, showing off the catch to his teammates and basking in the moment. With the score still 6-4 Mexico in the bottom of the ninth, the game comes down to the final outs. Mexico holds on to win the thrilling quarterfinal matchup and advance in the World Baseball Classic tournament. Arozarena, widely considered one of the best players in the game, demonstrates his all-around skills with the game-saving catch, while also providing energy and excitement for his team throughout the back-and-forth contest.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentPuerto Rico is up 4-2 in the quarterfinal of the World Baseball Classic
in the bottom of the seventh.
Barnes puts one in play.
Hustle double because it didn't really get behind the defense,
but he's in there.
Does that count as a hustle double?
I think so.
He was sliding fast by us with the tag just because he likes making tags.
Even if they're boring, he's into it.
Runner on second.
No out.
Randy, the best ever, arose Zaraña up, and he wants to swing.
Couldn't pull the trigger on that one.
Wants to swing again.
Knows not to pull the trigger on that one.
Swings as big as he can, and it's like, all right, damn.
Wanted to hit it.
Really wants to hit.
Doesn't want to walk.
Oh, my God.
Throw me a strike.
Shaking his head like, don't want that.
Oh, no.
All right.
Okay.
Don't want to pitch to me.
Okay.
Verdue goes up, and he's not going to see any strikes either.
Wants that call.
Kind of wants that call.
Going to frame that one, and ball four.
So, now you got bases loaded.
No outs.
Skip comes and says, next guy, please.
Make his hair better and his arm greater.
Lopez comes in and jam shot on an 0-2 pitch to get the first down.
Randy's thinking, I wish I got the hit.
I didn't want to walk.
Rowdy Tellez is up.
That's a ball.
Come on, man.
What are you doing?
Hey, throw it again.
And I'll give you the call.
Okay.
Strike.
I'm like, what?
What's going on?
Same fucking pitch.
I'm just like, shit, he's on to me.
Because, yeah, all right.
Green was a ball.
Red was a strike.
Green was a ball.
Red was a strike.
Huh.
So, confusing call.
Confusing zone.
But in the end, it's all right.
Rowdy, he fouls that one back.
That's a ball.
Randy looks at the outfielder and says, you.
You need a cutoff, man.
You need a cutoff.
Not a good.
Oh, dude.
That's not nice.
Shit.
Feelings hurt.
Oh, slider.
Strike three.
Is Lopez going to get out of this?
You got two outs now.
Base is loaded.
Is he a hero?
Outside slider for a ball.
Outside fastball for a ball.
Outside fastball.
Nice pitch for a strike.
Now he's going to come in.
I don't think he wanted to come in.
I think he wanted to stay outside.
Because he turns on that.
One run scores.
Next run scores.
Doogie's in at third.
Wow.
Tie game.
And they're down.
Oh, hello.
What's up, dude?
What are you about?
Ball low.
Oh, sup.
Strike.
Middle.
Big old lean.
Gotta love it.
And that one's flipped in the right field to give Mexico the lead.
Pounds his chest.
Let's go to the top of the eighth inning.
There's a runner on first.
For Puerto Rico.
Is this going to be a back and forth game?
The runner was moving.
The ball's smashed.
Randy Rosarito.
Kind of a weird route.
Doesn't matter.
Comes down with it.
Throws it.
The first saves the game with that catch.
The runner has to get back the first pitchers like, geez, man.
He's like, eh, eh, uh, you guys like that?
Pitchers like, what are you doing?
What's that?
And then the coach looks.
He's like, well, shit.
Well, you know, well, shit.
Oh, wow.
He looks old.
Well, shit.
Screaming, banging the helmet.
Pretty pissed off.
Thought he was going to be a hero.
Instead, not a hero.
And he's got that hair for nothing now.
Randy, what a grab, man.
The best ever.
Walks to the bullpen.
He's like, you guys like that?
Did you see it?
Did you see it?
Yeah.
I wasn't the perfect route.
Kind of went over my head, but I just reached down.
I got it.
No problem.
You guys like that?
The other thing that Randy's doing is after strikes, when the ball's not put in play,
smashes his glove and claps.
I don't need my glove.
I don't need my glove.
I don't need to catch anything.
You threw a strike.
I need both hands to clap for you.
That was the last pitch of the game.
Mexico wins.
Randy doesn't need the glove.
Never has.
Besides earlier, when he did, because he made that really good catch, he's excited.
He's screaming.
Then he kind of like claps.
All right.
Boom.
Has the glove.
Doesn't have the glove.
Mexico wins.
They move on.