Jorge Hernandez, Angel Ramirez lead Mexico to 8-2 win over Panama

Jorge Hernandez and Angel Ramirez had a productive game at-bat against Panama as they helped Mexico to an 8-2 victory on Saturday at the National Taiwan University of Sports.

Mexico concluded their stint at the XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup with a 3-2 Placement Round record, waiting for the result of other games to determine their standing, while Panama (4-1) will finish in seventh place.

Mexico took the lead early, 1-0, in the game with Isael Arias’ run on Angel Arredondo’s sacrifice fly to left field.

In the top of the second, Mexico extended the lead to 3-0 with Angel Nieblas’ double to left centre and Arias’ sacrifice bunt, driving in Antonis Macias and Ramirez’s runs.

Mexico’s second baseman Nieblas initiated the double play to register two outs in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fifth, Mexico added four more runs to the scoreboard with Hernandez’s single up the middle, Macias’ double and Ramirez’s two-RBI double, both to left field, ending the inning 7-0.

Panama caught up at 7-2 in the bottom of the fifth, with Alvaro Rios scoring on a defensive error and Nelson Guerra’s run on Edwin Walkden’s ground out.

Into the sixth, Mexico extended the lead to 8-2 when Hernandez hit a single, driving in Nieblas’ run. Later in the inning, Mexico loaded the bases on a walk, but Panamanian shortstop Hector Rayo lined out Antonio Macias to end the inning.

Mexico ended the game with a well-executed double play and a flyout in the bottom of the seventh, 8-2, finishing the Placement Round with a 3-2 record.