Julio Urías debuting with Mexico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Mexican team could not achieve victory this Saturday against its counterpart from Colombia in the first commitment of the World Baseball Classic despite a great performance by Julio Uríaswho was relentless until the fifth episode.
In a close encounter that went until the tenth inning, the Mexicans lost by a score of 5-4. The Aztec ninth was led by the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and he dominated much of the duel thanks to Urías and his four perfect innings in which he made 45 pitches, 32 of which were strikes and six ended in strikeouts.
However, in the tenth inning the outlook was complicated due to a double by the coffee growers that led to the fifth race. The game remained 0-0 until the top of the fifth inning with a hit by Isaac Paredes that drove the first into the legs of Joey Meneses.
Urías’ perfect performance was broken in the fifth inning after receiving a double from Jorge Alfaro. Next, Elías Díaz hit another two-base hit that tied the game at one.
In that same inning, the Colombian Reynaldo Rodríguez hit a long-range shot that prompted two more and made it 3-1. Closing the episode, Randy Arozarena tied the game with a home run through the left field area.
Opening the sixth episode, Julio Urías closed his debut in the World Classic in 5IP, 3CL, 3H, 0BB and 6K and without decision. Once again, the coffee player Reynaldo Rodríguez embittered the day for the Aztec ninth and promoted Jorge Alfaro to break the tie 4-3. However, Mexico reacted quickly and Alex Verdugo had a hit with two on base to seal the four-run parity.
The match remained close until the ninth inning and already in the top of the tenth the pitcher Jesús Cruz received a double. Subsequently, Isaac Paredes held a line for third that, despite not being completely saved, avoided the run and left Reynaldo Rodríguez in first.
With men on the corners, a fielding error by Luis Urías caused Jorge Alfaro to score the unearned run in the tiebreaker. At the end of episode number 10, Mexico tried and managed to bring the tie to third base, but with two outs on the board, Colombia drew 27 and defeated the Aztecs in their debut.
The pitcher who took the victory was Guillermo Zuñiga with two innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out four. The defeat was under the tutelage of Jesús Cruz. The Aztecs will face off against the United States team this Sunday afternoon at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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