Mexico downs Puerto Rico to attain semifinals of Planet Baseball Classic

Alden GonzalezESPN Employees Writer10:31 PM ET4 Minute Study

Mexico celebrates right after final K to do away with Puerto Rico

Giovanny Gallegos freezes Enrique Hernandez to send Mexico into the semifinals to face Japan.

MIAMI — They had rallied all the way back, erasing an early 4-run deficit, but if Mexico was to advance into its very first Planet Baseball Classic semifinal, and do away with a star-studded Puerto Rico group, a further significant play necessary to be created.

Randy Arozarena, of course, delivered it.

Clinging to a 1-run lead in the eighth inning of Friday night’s quarterfinal matchup, Arozarena raced close to the left-center-field fence and created an improbable leaping catch up against it, erasing what would have been a game-tying further-base hit and assisting Mexico, his adopted property nation, hold on to a five-four victory in front of a sellout crowd at LoanDepot Park.

Arozarena became a household name though dominating all through the 2020 postseason. When his Tampa Bay Rays reached the Planet Series, he offered 3 property runs. Arozarena was reminded of that late Friday evening and was asked to determine his greatest moment on a baseball field.

“2023, Planet Baseball Classic, eighth inning, that catch,” he stated in Spanish, drawing a laugh from a packed interview space.

Arozarena, 28, was born and raised in Cuba. He left the island in 2015 and arrived in Mexico, exactly where he played winter ball, had a daughter and fell in like with his new property. He became a citizen of Mexico in April of final year solely mainly because he wanted to represent the nation in this Planet Baseball Classic — and he has taken complete benefit.

Arozarena was the MVP of Pool C, going 7-for-14 though driving in nine runs and scoring six other individuals as Mexico won 3 of its 4 games. He then created the largest play in arguably the largest game in Mexican baseball history, sending Mexico into a semifinal matchup against powerhouse Japan on Monday.

“I really feel outstanding,” Arozarena stated. “I’ve had some outstanding moments for my profession.”

Puerto Rico, playing in the wake of Edwin Diaz’s sobering knee injury, jumped out to a four- lead in the very first inning against Mexican ace Julio Urias, having back-to-back property runs from Javier Baez and Eddie Rosario. But Puerto Rico did not muster substantially offense the rest of the way, and Mexico lastly bridged the gap though down to its final seven outs.

Alexis Diaz entered to his brother’s popular stroll-out song, “Narco,” but proceeded to load the bases with none out, providing up a double to Austin Barnes and back-to-back walks to Arozarena and Alex Verdugo. Jorge Lopez came out of the bullpen to record two rapid outs. But Isaac Paredes lined a two-run single to left field and Luis Urias dumped a base hit into shallow suitable, providing Mexico its very first lead of the game.

Edwin Diaz, who tore the patellar tendon in his suitable knee in the course of Puerto Rico’s on-field celebration following its win against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday evening, reached out to Alexis right after the game to inform him he went by way of equivalent scenarios in 2019. He told him to block all the outdoors noise and to retain believing in himself.

“It is been seriously painful for me,” Alexis Diaz, seemingly on the verge of tears, stated of not possessing his brother with him. “I wanted each of us to be collectively in the Classic. Not possessing him right here has been seriously hard for me. But I am a warrior and I went out there. I could not achieve what I wanted, but I am going to retain going forward this season.”

Puerto Rico had a opportunity to avenge Diaz and tie the game the following inning, with a runner on very first and Emmanuel Rivera uncorking a deep drive to left-center field. But Arozarena, who has awed fans with his play and dazzled teammates with his cowboy boots in the course of this tournament, would not have it. Soon after he secured the catch and chucked the baseball back toward the infield, Arozarena settled onto the warning track and stretched his arms out wide, his palms exposed and his mouth agape, a further signature pose from the Cuban-born outfielder who fell in like with Mexico.

Mentioned Mexican manager Benji Gil: “He’s a kid who’s extremely focused on carrying out every thing inside his energy to assist this family members of Mexican warriors get a opportunity to play for a planet championship.”