Mexico, who had lost the first three games at the World Cup of Baseball in Taipei, crushed South Africa 13-3 for their first victory.
Mexico scored five runs in the second to take the lead. After two South African runs to cut the advantage to two, they added eight runs in the remaining four innings.
The Mexican offense had failed to connect on their chances in the first three matches of the event so far. But on Saturday they got the timed hits to use twelve hits for 13 runs. South Africa itself had eleven hits, but missed several opportunities to upset one of the established squads on the international level.
Efren ESPINOZA hit a solo- and a three-run-homerun. Sergio CONTRERAS was four for five with two doubles and a triple. He scored twice and drove in four.
Gregory LIENBENBERG hit the first homerun for South Africa at the World Cup of Baseball in Taipei in the fourth. Brett WILLENBERG and Martin GORDON had the other RBIs.
Humberto GARDENAS (W 1-0) allowed three runs in five innings of work for the win.
Jared ELARIO (L 0-1) gave up six runs in five-plus innings and took the loss.
MEX 050 014 03 13 12 0