Mexico’s Joey Meneses celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the United States during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game in Phoenix, Sunday, March 12, 2023. (AP News photo)

Mexico. 11. 15. 0

USA. 5. 8. 0

Time: 3:41

Attendance: 47,534

Saturday, March 12, 2023

By Lewis Rubman

PHOENIX–Saturday’s encounter with Mexico (0-1) was the first opportunity for this year’s version of Team USA (1-0) to test its mettle against a serious opponent in a meaningful game. On opening night, the Yanquis had romped to a 6-2 triumph over Great Britain that was closer than expected. This came on the heels of Mexico’s upset 10-inning, 5-4 loss to Colombia 5-4.

Mexico’s starting pitcher, Patrick Sandoval, had a pretty good season last year. Toiling for the woeful Angels (I mistakenly called them the Dodgers in a previous article), he went 6-9, 2.91 in 148-2/3 innings over 27 games. Whether that performance was an outlier or the sign a marked improvement is yet to be seen; his lifetiebig league mark is 10-24, 3.70).

Nick Martínez, Team USA’s starter, is another middle of the road hurler. He went 4-4, 3.47, for the Padres, which brought his career MLB totals to 21-34,4.50.

Thanks to the WBC’s pitch limit of 65, it made sense for manager Mark De Rosa to have puled Martinez early, but, under normal cirumstance, he might have lasted longer.

Randy Arozamena got things going with a leadoff grounder to short. He was called out, but the video replay showed he was safe, and the call was reversed. After Alexander Verdugo flew out to center, Joey Meneses launched a 396 line drive hone run into the left field seats below the auxiliary press box, putting the visitors ahead, 2-0.

Kyle Tucker’s one out triple to right and a Tim Anderson single to the same field put the USA on the board and halved Mexico’s led in the second.

But Mexico came roaring back in their half of the third, restoring its two run margin on a series of infield singles, culmination in one to send by Isaac Paredes that plated Meneses and brought ex-Athletic Kendall Graveman to the mound to replace Martínez, who had lasted a mere 2-2/3 innings, in which he surrendered three tallies, all earned, but not merited, on five hits and a walk while striking out two. He threw 57 pitches, 33 for strikes.

After Graveman got his man, Brady Singer took over for him to start the fourth. He got his first man, but Aleck Thomas singled to left, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and, with two down, scored on Arozamena’s two bagger to center. 4-1, Mexico. Then, after Verdugo walked, Joey Meneses did it again; a line drive over the left centerfield fence, 412 feet from home. 7-1, Mexico.

Sandoval didn’t come out for the bottom of the fourth. He had thrown 55 pitches, 33 of them counting as strikes, and allowed one run, earned, on two hits and a walk. He was replaced vy Javier Assad, who retired the side in order.

It was Adam Ottovino on the hill for Uncle Sam in the sixth. That he got the side out in order is worth mentioning. That Meneses was one of the batters he retired is noteworthy. Otttovino then gave way to Aaron Loup for the top of the seventh frame.

Joseph Romero relieved Assad after the huge crowd of 47,534 sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” He got KyleTucker to fly out to center and fanned Tim Anderson, but then Will Smith took the ball out to left field seats to make the score 7-2.

The visitors’ eighth began with Daniel Bard pitching for the States. Austin Barnes greeted him with a ground single to center and then moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch and scored on Arozamena’s line drive double to left. When Bard finally was replaced by Devin Williams, Mexico was ahead, 11-2, achieved in ways too numerous to name. Williams retired a line drive to second to staunch the bleeding.

César Vargas took over for Mexico to face the top of the US lineup in the home eight. Betts gave him no trouble, but he issued a passport to Trout. Goldschmidt then singled to left, sending the pinch running Cedric Mullins to third. Bobby Witt, Jr. pinch hit for Arenado and lashed a two bagger to center, and it was 11-3 with Goldschmidt on third.

Vargas got Pete Alonso on a pop up to first and then gave way to Samuel Zarzueta, who gave a free pass to Tucker. With the bases loaded, Anderson smacked a double to left, bringing in Goldschmidtand Witt and sending Tucker to third. Now score was 11-5. It stayed there after Thomas caught Smith’s sharp liner to center.

Ryan Pressly entered the fray to face the battered but still leading Mexicans in the top of the ninth. He put them away to a samba beat, one-two-three.

Now it was was up to Gerard Reyes to preserve his team’s six run lead. He did it.

Sandoval was credited with the win; Martínez was charged with the loss.

Monday, at noon Colombia (1-0) will face Great Britain (0-2), followed at 7:00 by Canada (1-1) against the United States (0-1). This round of the WBC is turning out to be pretty Interesting