Canada’s run at the WBSC Premier 12 baseball tournament is over after a 4-3 quarterfinal loss to Mexico on Monday, Nov. 16.
Mexico scored three unearned runs and held Canada off the scoreboard in all but one inning to advance to the semifinals. Courtenay’s Taylor Green was not in the Canada lineup Monday.
With Canada leading 3-1 in the eighth, Phillippe Aumont got into trouble early after hitting the lead off batter before an infield single put runners on first and second.
Mexico looked to move the runners over on a bunt and Canada nabbed the lead runner at third, but a throwing error from Pete Orr put runners on second and third with just one out.
After another infield single, a base hit to right brought Mexico to within one before a ground ball with two out got under shortstop Sean Jamieson’s glove and allowed two more runs to score, giving Mexico a one-run lead.
Mexico now meets the United States in the Nov. 20 semifinal while South Korea takes on Japan in the Nov. 19 semi. The winners meet Nov. 21 in the gold medal game in Tokyo, Japan.
Monday’s loss was an upset, as Canada (world #7) won Group A with a 5-0 record while Mexico (world #12) finished fourth in Group B at 2-3. Canada had won the last six games against Mexico in all levels at major tournaments, following a 9-1 loss to Mexico at the World Baseball Classic in 2006.
Canada clinched the top seed in their group by defeating the Netherlands 3-1 on Nov. 15. Green saw action as a pinch hitter, going 0-for-2.
On Nov. 14 Canada blanked Italy 4-0. Other wins were 9-8 over Chinese Taipei on Nov. 12, 2-0 over Puerto Rico on Nov. 11 and 5-1 over Cuba on Nov. 10 where Green went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The Premier 12 tourney features the top 12 ranked nations in the baseball world according to the WBSC ranking system.
There is $4 million prize money at stake, with the winner taking home $1 million.
Other Nov. 16 quarter-final matches saw South Korea defeat Cuba 7-2, United States beat Netherlands 6-1 and Japan top Puerto Rico 9-3.
More details at premier12.wbsc.org
