MEXICO TAKES BASEBALL SILVER MEDAL AT CENTRAL AMERICAN GAMES

The Mexican National Baseball Team played in the Central American & Caribbean Games last week in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and the Verdes Grande returned home with silver medals after finishing second in the competition under manager Enrique “Che” Reyes.

After dropping their first contest to Nicaragua, 5-2, on July 24, Mexico won two games the next day, taking a 3-2 victory over the Dutch Antilles before slipping past the Dominican Republic, 2-1. A 7-0 pounding of Panama on July 26 vaulted Mexico into the semifinals of the tournament.

The Mexicans shocked host Puerto Rico, 1-0, on July 27 as Ivan Araujo scored the game-winner in the top of the ninth inning. Mexico’s win streak ended at four in the July 28 title game, however, as the Dominicans gained both revenge and the gold with a 3-2 win despite Emmanuel Valdez’ RBI double in the eighth inning. Francisco Campos took the loss for Mexico, whose pitchers allowed just eleven runs over six games (and only six tallies in their last five outings).