WBC Pool B: Australia shocks Mexico with 17-7 rout

World Baseball Classic Pool B: Mexico – Australia 7-17 (8)

AUS 310 033 43  17 22 2
MEX 511 000 00   7 12 1

Box score

After the surprise wins by China over Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands against the Dominicans, the Australian rout of Mexico should be accounted for upset number three in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The Aussies overcame a 4-7 deficit after three innings to score 13 runs in the last four frames for a 17-7 victory, stunning the crowd at the Foro Sol Stadium in Mexico City. Mexico will face South Africa tonight, needing a win to avoid elimination.

Australia already had a perfect start into the game, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first on back-to-back homeruns by Luke Hughes and Chris Snelling. However Mexico countered with five runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by a Jorge Vazquez grand slam. They added two more runs in the next two periods on a solo homerun by Alfredo Amezaga and a RBI double by Augie Ojeda.

But that was it for the Mexican offense. They failed to score in the reminder of the game and gave Australia the chance to come back from three down. They tied the contest through three runs in the fifth, regained the lead with another three runs in the sixth, before ending the game due to mercy rule with seven runs in the seventh and eighth periods.

Snelling (3-5, 3 runs, 3 RBI) hit another solo homerun and Ben Risinger (2-5, 2 runs, 3 RBI) capped the Australian outburst with a three-run shot in the eighth. Leadoff hitter Trent Oeltjen went four-for-five with a walk. Shortstop Brad Harman had three hits and scored four times. Andrew Graham (4-6, 2 runs) drove in three.

Australian starter Craig Anderson was tagged with six hits, six runs (5 ER) and a walk in one-plus innings. Damian Moss (W 1-0) picked up the win. Mexican pitching had a horrible day. Besides reliever Rafael Diaz, each one of the eight throwers was responsible for at least one run. Oliver Perez began and allowed seven hits, four runs and a walk in two-plus innings.  Ricardo Rincon (L 0-1) took the loss, putting the winning run on base.