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MIAMI – The sport was over for an hour late Friday when pitcher Alexis Diaz walked out of the Puerto Rico clubhouse, his head down after a 5-4 loss to Mexico, attempting to maintain his composure.
He was attempting to fathom how a wonderful dream simply 48 hours earlier might flip right into a horrifying nightmare.
It was on this similar subject at Londepo Park on Wednesday evening that Puerto Rico defeated the Dominican Republic within the World Baseball Basic, one of the best victories in its proud baseball historical past.
Edwin Diaz, Alexis’s older brother, had simply come off the sidelines within the ninth, leaping up and down with pleasure. Alexis and his companions rush in. They soar into his arms, and start to have a good time one of essentially the most stunning nights of their lives.
It was the primary time the 2 brothers had ever performed collectively on the identical skilled baseball subject, and now they had been experiencing the identical pleasure collectively.
Seconds later, Edwin Diaz fell to the bottom, screaming in ache, his proper knee sticking out. Alexis stood to the facet, tears streaming down his face, watching his brother being carried off the sphere in a wheelchair.
Now, together with his brother present process season-ending knee surgical procedure, Diaz entered the sport on Friday within the seventh inning, requested to guard a 4-2 lead.
Austin Barnes greeted him with a double. Randy Arrozarena is gone. Alex Verdugo is gone.
Puerto Rico supervisor Yadier Molina arrived on the mound to eject Díaz from the sport, however the harm was already carried out. He sat on the bench and watched Isaac Paredes hit a two-out, two-run single off Jorge López to tie the sport, after which Luis Urías hit a go-ahead run-scoring single.
That is all it is over.
Mexico was advancing to the WBC semifinals for the primary time within the nation’s greatest baseball victory, Puerto Rico’s WBC title hopes had been over, and Díaz was planning to catch a flight again to Arizona for the Cincinnati Reds’ spring coaching camp. .
Baseball, man, can or not it’s merciless.
“It’s been really painful the last few days, to be honest,” Diaz stated. “I wanted to hang out with my brother, especially with what happened to him.”
Diaz paused, composed himself and stated: “But I am a warrior. I have the heart of a warrior. I am going to give my best to have a great season and keep it going.
Diaz’s teammates consoled him. He talked to his brother. Everyone gave the same advice.
“My teammates simply informed me it is half of the sport, do not put my head down,” Diaz said, “simply preserve doing what I am doing.”
And the words of elder brother?
“He stated to simply block out the skin noise,” Diaz said, “simply preserve targeted on your self.” These are the things that happen in sports. ,
“He had gone through a similar situation in 2019 as well.”
This was Edwin’s first season with the Mets after being traded from the Seattle Mariners, and he went 2–7 with a 5.59 ERA, and was nearly traded out of New York. Today, he is regarded as one of the most influential closers in the game.
Maybe it would all be different if Edwin Diaz never got hurt –
But Alexis argued that she was emotionally fine.
“I felt calm at that second,” Diaz said, “I felt comfy with my mechanics.” These are the things that happened during the game.
Diaz will now have a long flight back to Arizona, still believing the WBC will make him a better pitcher, perhaps even stronger mentally.
“I discovered many precious classes from this expertise,” he said. “I am someone who is quite inexperienced in my professional career. It is something that I will carry with me as I move forward throughout my career. …
“I simply need to inform the children that everytime you face adversity, preserve going and do not again down. Preserve doing what you are doing, belief the method and good issues will occur.”
Certainly, Mexico in this tournament is a testament to that resilience. They lost the first game to Colombia in a surprising upset. Nevertheless, a day later, they defeated Team USA, beat Great Britain, and outpaced Canada to win Pool C in Phoenix.
Mexico’s manager Benji Gil said before the game, “An important recreation of most of these lives, mine included, is tonight.” beer.”
Mexico fell behind 4–0 in the first inning with Julio Urías, but then shut out Puerto Rico on just four hits after the Dodgers left-hander walked.
“The adjustment was not giving up, preserve wanting ahead,” said Gil, “it did not matter how arduous the hit was. I had a hero, an idol on the Video games in Mexico. [boxer] Julio Cesar Chavez. and in 1990, they had been dropping vs. [Meldrick] Taylor and he saved combating, combating, combating, combating, and he gained that combat.
“Julio Cesar Chavez is a very good friend of mine. He sent many messages supporting the team. I was thinking about him. The Mexican team will never give up if we have other Mexican warriors who never give up.”
Now, right here he’s, simply two wins away from stunning the world and successful his first WBC.
“Most importantly, in my opinion, we are showing what Mexican players are capable of at the highest level,” Gil stated. “To be able to be a part of it and to have a small part in guiding them by leading them as Mexican warriors is a blessing.”
Their subsequent recreation is towards Japan on Monday evening.
Julio Cesar Chavez should be watching.
Observe Nightengale on Twitter: @nightengale
