Alexis Wilson had the go-ahead single in the seventh inning that helped Mexico edge Great Britain, 2-1, in a World Baseball Classic game on Tuesday night at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Mexico improved to 2-1 in Group C while Britain finished at 1-3. Mexico got a great start from Taijuan Walker, who pitched four scoreless innings while striking out eight. Giovanny Gallegos worked the ninth to earn the save.
Britain tied it 1-all in the sixth on B.J. Murray Jr.’s run-scoring single. Right-hander Tahnaj Thomas took the loss after giving up Wilson’s single in the seventh.
The final day of Group C play on Wednesday features two important games. The winner of Canada-Mexico advances to the quarterfinals, while the United States (2-1) will also advance if it beats Colombia (1-2).
VENEZUELA 4, NICARAGUA 1
In Miami, Eugenio Suárez and Anthony Santander had two hits each as Venezuela stifled Nicaragua and improved to 3-0.
Venezuela clinched Pool D a spot in the quarterfinals when the Dominican Republic defeated Israel later Tuesday.
Suárez’s two-run single capped a three-run fourth inning that overcame a 1-0 deficit. Andrés Giménez’s run-scoring single tied the score, and Suárez’s lined a ball to right-center that scored Santander and Giménez.
Santander added an RBI double in the fifth.
José Ruiz got the win, pitching two perfect innings of relief. Carlos Hernández, José Quijada, Silvino Bracho and José Alvarado followed and limited Nicaragua to four hits over the final five innings.
Brandon Leyton’s RBI groundout against starter Eduardo Rodriguez put Nicaragua ahead 1-0 in the second.
Rodriguez allowed seven hits and struck out three in two-plus innings.
Venezuela closes Group D against Israel on Wednesday.
Nicaragua finished 0-4 in its first WBC and will be forced to participate in qualifying for the 2026 tournament. The Nicaraguans hit .192 and were outscored 22-4.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10, ISRAEL 0 (7 innings)
Padres star Manny Machado homered, singled and drove in three runs as the Dominican Republic improved to 2-1 and clinched the top spot in Pool D for Venezuela with a mercy-rule win in Miami.
American League Rookie of the Year Julio Rodriguez and Eloy Jiménez each had two hits for the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic finished with 15 hits against seven Israeli pitchers – the last a two-run double by Jean Segura that ended the game in the seventh because of the mercy rule.
Jiménez gave the Dominican Republic a quick lead with his run-scoring single in the first.
Machado’s solo shot and Ketel Marte’s RBI double in the third made it 3-0. Machado hit a slider from reliever Evan Kravetz 437 feet into the pavilion above left-center for his second homer of the tournament.
The Dominican Republic broke it open in the sixth. Rodriguez doubled in two runs and Machado followed with a two-run single.
A night after not getting a runner against Puerto Rico in an eight-inning loss, Israel had its only baserunner in the third, when Spencer Horwitz hit a leadoff single off starter Roansy Contreras.
Genesis Cabrera got the win in relief.
The Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico play for the second spot in the group Wednesday.
CANADA 5, COLOMBIA 0
In Phoenix, Otto Lopez hit a three-run homer, Noah Skirrow threw five quality innings and Canada shut out Colombia.
Canada led 1-0 going into the eighth inning, but Owen Caissie had a two-out, RBI single to push the lead to 2-0. Lopez’s three-run shot in the ninth gave them an even bigger cushion.
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Canada’s pitching staff gave up just five hits and one walk, bouncing back from a 12-1 loss to the United States on Monday.
Colombia’s Oscar Mercado had two hits. Adrian Almeida took the loss, giving up one run over three innings.
Dodgers star Freddie Freeman left the game in the fourth inning because of a hamstring injury. He ran gingerly out of the batter’s box after popping up in the third.
Canada manager Ernie Whitt said Freeman’s exit was precautionary and that he wasn’t expected to play Wednesday against Mexico.
Canada improved to 2-1 in Group C, while Colombia dropped to 1-2.