PHOENIX
-- Canada is now the team that USA must beat to advance to the second
round of the WBC. Canada smoked Mexico, 10-3, and will play Team USA on
Sunday.
The Game: The euphoria of Mexico's victory over
USA vanished in a heartbeat on Saturday. They found themselves down 4-0
after a half-inning, and never recovered.
What it means: Mexico is done. Italy is in. Mexico was favored to advance with Team USA to Miami, but now Mexico is mathematically eliminated.
The scene:
Mexico doesn't take losing lightly, and they started an ugly brawl in
the ninth inning that nearly caused the game to be forfeited. Team
Mexico, visibly frustrated and angry while losing 9-3 in the ninth
inning, started the brawl when Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon hitting Rene
Tosoni. Leon was angry that catcher Chris Robinson bunted for a single.
The teams congregated on the field, and when Mexico third baseman Luis
Cruz threw the first punch, there was a series of fights throughout the
infield. Boston Red Sox reliever Alfredo Aceves was in one major
skirmish Canadian pitcher Jimmy Henderson.
It turned ugly from the
stands when someone threw a water bottle that hit pitching coach Denis
Boucher. Canadian shortstop Cale Iorg fired the bottle back into the
stands.
Later, someone threw an empty bottle at Canada first base
coach Larry Walker, causing another stop in play. Canadian coach Ernie
Whitt asked home-plate umpire Brian Gorman to stop the game, and Gorman
went to Team Mexico and said that the game was in danger of being
forfeited.
Fun fact: Mexico reliever Alfredo Aceves, who
pitches for the Red Sox and was in the middle of the brawl, wears No. 91
in honor of Dennis Rodman.
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