HOUSTON – It’s not only the ending of the 2023 World Baseball Classic that still lingers with USA manager Mark DeRosa three years later.
In the last tournament, Team USA finished as the runner-up in its pool after getting crushed 11-5 in an upset loss to Mexico, which holds the all-time WBC advantage between the teams. In fact, the United States hasn’t beaten Mexico in the WBC since pool play in 2006.
That will be on DeRosa’s mind — and the minds of all the holdovers from the 2023 USA squad — when the two countries meet again Monday night in the game everyone has been waiting for in Pool B.
“The U.S. has had their hands full with them in this tournament the last couple of installments of it,” DeRosa said. “I certainly haven’t forgotten about it.”
In 2023, Mexico and the U.S. finished as the winner and runner-up, respectively, of Pool C in Phoenix. The teams nearly met again in the final. Mexico held a one-run lead on Team Japan in the ninth inning of their semifinal game, but a walk-off double from Munetaka Murakami allowed Japan to advance to face the U.S., where Japan emerged victorious after Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout in an enthralling finish to the tournament.
There will be plenty on the line again on Monday night in Houston, not only because the winner of the bout between Team USA and Mexico will be in a strong position to win the pool, but also because the loser will have to beat Italy in its final game to have a chance to advance to the quarterfinals. USA, Mexico and Italy have each started Pool B with two wins, while Great Britain and Brazil have gone winless through three games.
The U.S. and Mexico are the favorites in the pool. Both teams are oozing with MLB talent.
Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber have USA on track at the WBC. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)
Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal started USA’s last game against Great Britain. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes will start this one against Mexico’s Manny Barreda. AL MVP Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, who led the NL with 56 home runs last season, have already homered in the tournament. For Mexico, Jonathan Aranda, Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran, Nacho Alvarez and Alek Thomas have all already gone deep. Mexico has plated 24 runs through its first two games.
Team Mexico manager Benji Gil described the upcoming matchup as “one of the most anticipated baseball events of the year.”
“At the end of the day, it’s become a rivalry when maybe it should never have been a rivalry,” said Gil, leaning into Mexico’s underdog status. “Maybe their rival should be Japan, Dominican [Republic], Puerto Rico, but it surely’s turn out to be a rivalry as a result of we’ve had success.”
Loads of MLB expertise on Mexico’s squad, together with Alejandro Kirk and Randy Arozarena. (Picture by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Images through Getty Photos)
In Mexico’s onslaught in opposition to the U.S. in 2023, Joey Meneses broke the sport open along with his second of two house runs in entrance of 47,534 followers at Chase Discipline. Meneses, who’s on Workforce Mexico once more this yr however has solely logged one at-bat by the primary two video games, knocked in 5 runs and had three of Mexico’s 15 hits in that offensive barrage.
A equally electrical surroundings awaits the 2 groups Monday at Daikin Park, house of the Houston Astros, the place the 2 nations will meet once more in a highly-anticipated conflict of 2-0 groups.
“It’s going to be lit,” Thomas stated.
Mexico additionally beat Workforce USA within the first spherical in 2013 and eradicated the U.S. within the 2006 match. This time, although, the U.S. has despatched its most embellished pitching employees and roster ever to the competitors. And it’ll have the reigning N.L. Cy Younger Award winner on the mound to attempt to avenge the 2023 loss.
If the top end result finally ends up the identical once more for Mexico, Gil gained’t care how decisively his workforce wins.
“We all know they’re nice,” Gil stated. “I imply, they’re nice. They’re an amazing workforce. However we’re simply going to attempt to be only a tiny bit higher. Even when we win by half a run, we’ll take it.”
