PHOENIX — When Mexico beat the United States during the 2006 World Baseball Classic, it was a little bittersweet because the team was headed home no matter what.
PHOENIX — When Mexico beat the United States during the 2006 World Baseball Classic, it was a little bittersweet because the team was headed home no matter what.
Doing it again with so much at stake was simply sweet for the Mexicans.
Adrian Gonzalez homered and drove in three runs, seven pitchers handcuffed United States hitters all night, and Mexico rebounded from a disappointing opening loss with a decisive 5-2 win over the Americans in Pool D of the World Baseball Classic on Friday.
Coming off a last-inning loss to Italy, Mexico (1-1) needed a win or its tournament was essentially over.
Mexico got off to a great start, tagging U.S. starter R.A. Dickey for four runs in the first three innings, including a two-run homer by Gonzalez in the third.
Yovani Gallardo started Mexico’s domination of U.S. hitters with 3 1/3 solid innings and Luis Cruz had two RBIs to give a boisterous, pro-Mexico crowd of 44,256 plenty to cheer about at Chase Field.
Mexico will send out right-hander Marco Estrada against Canada today with a chance to move on to the second round of the WBC.