por servicios de cable de El Reportero
In a clash of undefeated teams, Mexico will face Team USA in a World Baseball Classic group-stage game in Houston on Monday night, with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
Mexico overwhelmed Brazil 16-0 in a six-inning run-rule victory Sunday to improve to 2-0 and take the top spot in Pool B. The Mexican squad holds a run differential of 24. The United States also enters the matchup at 2-0 and sits close behind with a run differential of 18.
Mexico’s offense powered the win over Brazil with four home runs, quickly dismantling the South Americans and setting the stage for another chapter in a rivalry that has intensified in recent tournaments.
Mexico has won three consecutive World Baseball Classic games against the United States, but manager Benji Gil acknowledged the challenge awaiting his team.
“I’ve said this before, they are a super team,” Gil said of Team USA. “They have a roster full of stars. They’ve got All-Stars, MVP candidates, Cy Young candidates, Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers.”
Mexico’s roster includes several Major League standouts such as catcher Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays, outfielder Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners, infielder Jonathan Aranda of the Tampa Bay Rays and outfielder Jarren Duran of the Minnesota Twins.
Fans supporting Mexico in Houston have been described as “ear-shatteringly loud,” and Monday’s game at Daikin Park is expected to resemble the atmosphere of a postseason Major League contest.
“It has become a rivalry when maybe it should never have been a rivalry,” Gil said, noting that historically the United States has been heavily favored. “Maybe their rival should be Japan, the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico. But it has become a rivalry because we’ve had success.”
This will mark the fifth WBC meeting between the two teams. The United States’ only victory came in 2006, when it defeated Mexico in group play.
Italy has also started Pool B with two wins, while Great Britain and Brazil remain winless. The top two teams advance to the quarterfinals beginning March 13.
