Mexico has power, outslugs the Netherlands and earns second win

During the presentation press conference, Mexico’s manager Enrique Reyes said that his team’s weakness could be a lack of power. Mexico proved it otherwise as the line up used four home runs to defeat The Netherlands, 14-7, in Saturday’s second game of group A of the U-23 Baseball World Cup.

Mexico took an early lead against Dutch starter Wendell Floranus, a reliever for Vallejo in the independent Pacific Association. Fabricio Macias hit a lead-off double. With two outs, clean-up hitter Julian Ornelas tripled and right fielder Jose Urena followed with a single to make it 2-0.

The Netherlands struck right back against Francisco Haro. They tied it on a two-RBI triple by designated hitter Ruar Verkerk and took the lead on a base hit by first baseman Takke.

The Dutch proved they can hit, but their lead didn’t last beyond the fourth inning. Right fielder Jose Urena put Mexico ahead again when he homered with Ornelas standing at first.
Mexico didn’t need to look back and kept swinging for the fences, adding home runs by Piňa, Ureňa and Valenzuela.

Mexico combined a total 16 hits and every player in the starting line up had at least one. Five players had a multi-hit game. At the top of the order, center fielder Macias and third baseman Heras had three each.

The Netherlands also enjoyed a productive day at the plate and got a total 12 hits. The Dutch scored four times in the bottom of the sixth against relievers Carlos Morales and Antonio Osuna. Trailing by two runs, the pitching staff simply couldn’t give The Netherlands a chance. At the end, you can count six of them in the box score and each one allowed at least a hit, except for Bonifacio, who entered the game only to get the third out of the top of the ninth.

Mexico enjoyed a four-homer night