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| Joey Terdoslavich with Mexicali in 2021 |
After
winning the Mexican Pacific League championship series against
Guasave last month for the city’s fourth pennant in over 70 winters,
Los Mochis players and coaches boarded a plane for Caracas, Venezuela
as the Mex Pac’s representative at the Caribbean Series.
However,
since the Caneros roster for the Crown Jewel of Latin Baseball
included 18 reinforcements and just 10 players who’d actually worn a
Los Mochis uniform during the regular season, we will refer to them
as Team Mexico for the rest of this article. This was more an
all-star team than it was the Caneros.
Team
Mexico finished tied for first in the eight-team, round-robin
standings with a 5-2 record before dropping a semifinal match against
eventual champions Dominican Republic but managed to cop third place
with a 1-0 consolation game win over Colombia. The following game
accounts are translated (and edited) stories from the LMP website,
with some important missing details added.
Thursday,
February 2: Mexico 5, Dominican Republic 4
The
Mexicans opened play for both the Serie del Caribe and Caracas’
brand-new Estadio La Rinconada with a 5-4 win over the Dominican
Republic (Licey Tigres).
In the
second inning, the first-ever hit at the 37,000-seat ballpark arrived
on a single by Ramón Hernández for the Dominicans, followed by a
double by Mel Rojas Jr. to place men in the corners. A Kelvin
Gutiérrez grounder to shortstop brought Hernández home for a 1-0
lead. With two outs, Webster Rivas brought Rojas in with the second
run of the game with a double to the left.
Although
the third brought another score for the Dominican Republic on an RBI
double by Robinson Canó, Mexico rang in the fourth with a single by
José Cardona, who was later brought in on a hit by by Justin Dean.
With
the scoreboard showing a 4-1 lead for the Dominicans, Mexico scored
in the “lucky seventh” with Reynaldo Rodríguez’ solo home
run (first in the history of the park) off left-hander Raúl Valdés
to left field.
In the
eighth, after Mexico narrowed the gap to 4-3 when Cardona scored,
Domincan manager José Offerman brought Jairo Asencio in from the
bullpen to face Fernando Villegas, who was pinch-hitting for Irving
López with two men on base. The LMP Rookie of the Year hit a two-run
double to the left to give Mexico a 5-4 lead which held up for the
first victory of the 2023 Serie del Caribe Gran Caracas for
Mexico.
Braulio
Torres-Pérez started for Mexico, allowing three runs over 5 innings.
He was relieved by César Vargas, Rafael Córdova (who scored the
victory), Samuel Zazueta and Jake Sánchez, who obtained the first
save of the Caribbean classic.
Friday,
February 3: Curacao 2, Mexico 1
In a
close game, the Mexican nine suffered their first defeat at the
tournament with a 2-1 loss to Curacao (Willemstad Wildcats KJ74) at
the La Rinconada Stadium.
Curaçao
opened the scoring in the third inning off Mexico starter Matt
Pobereyko. It was a Ray-Patrick Diddier double that sent Roger
Bernadina home with the game’s first score. The Curacao lead was
raised to 2-0 in the fifth inning when Bernadina sent Edmond
Americaan across the plate with a single.
Mexico
had left the bases full in the third inning, but Joey Terdoslavich
took it upon himself to cut the lead in half in the bottom of the
sixth inning, belting the second home run for Mexico in the CS by
connecting off Néstor Molina. The 2017 Mexican League Pitcher of the
Year with Veracruz was lifted after Terdoslavich’s bomb but Mexico
was unable to touch the Curacao relievers for a run the rest of the
way.
The
defeat went to Pobereyko, Molina took the victory and the save went
to Wendell Floranus.
Saturday,
February 4: Mexico 7, Colombia 6
Coming
from behind on a couple of occasions, tying the game in the eighth
and going ahead in the ninth on a bases-loaded hit for Roberto “Tito”
Valenzuela, Mexico held on for a 7-6 win over Colombia (Monteria
Vaqueros) for their second victory in the Caribbean Series.
Both
teams attacked early. Defending CS champs Colombia scored two runs in
the top of the first against Mexican starter Darel Torres, but Mexico
responded immediately in the lower part of the same frame. Roberto
Valenzuela doubled in Justin Dean and Rodolfo Amador singled in
Valenzuela to tie the score at 2-2.
The
cheers of the Mexican fans who made the trip to Caracas were heard at
La Rinconada Stadium after Juan Uriarte launched the ball to left in
the second for the third home run of Mexico in Caracas, most of any
team at that point of the Series.
In the
fifth, Colombia hurt Mexico as reliever César Vargas let in a run
and later Luis Márquez was torched with Andrés Angulo’s home run
with runners in the corners to give the Colombians a 6-3 lead.
In the
eighth, Colombia reliever Jhon Peluffo came in and got into trouble
with an error before an Amador hit scored two and Orlando Piña’s RBI
single off Francisco Jimenez tied the tilt at 6-6.
In the
ninth came the triumph. Leadoff batter Julián Ornelas singled,
advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jasson Atondo and then,
after intentional walks to José Cardona and (inexplicably) Dean to
load the bases, scored the walkoff run from third on a Valenzuela
single.
Torres
opened the game for Mexico and pitched four innings, allowing two
runs on four hits before leaving without decision. He was relieved by
Vargas, Márquez, Brandon Koch, Fabián Cota, Irvin Machuca and
winner Juan Gamez. The defeat was handed to Óscar Marcelino, who
allowed the winning run on two intentional walks and Valenzuela’s hit
in one-third of an inning’s labor.
Sunday,
February 5: Mexico 6, Cuba 5
The
Mexicans won their third game in the Caribbean Series, defeating the
Farmers of Cuba (Bayamo Agriculdoras) by a 6-5 score. With this, the
Mex Pac representatives lifted their record in 3 victories and 1
defeat to rank among the top four for semifinal berths.
Mexico
did damage again in the first inning on a second consecutive day by
scoring three off Cuban starter Ángel Sánchez, who received all the
damage with a run-scoring single by Rodolfo Amador and a two-run
double by Joey Terdoslavich to take an early 3-0 lead.
Cuba
responded in the lower part of the second inning, leading off with
with two singles sandwiched around a walk off Mexico starter Jeff
Kinley to load the bases, followed by errors by third baseman Rudy
Amador and shortstop Tito Valenzuela to open the door for a 5-run
rally to turn the scoreboard around to a 5-3 Cuban lead.
But
Team Mexico quickly responded in the third. Valenzuela opened the
attack with a single and with one out, Amador also hit a single and
Joey Terdoslavich negotiated a walk to fill the bases. Valenzuela
came in on a single by Julián Ornelas and, after the second out,
Jasson Atondo got his first hit of the classic Caribbean with a
single to left that sent Amador and Ornelas to the pentagon and
regained the lead at 6-5. Neither team scored again the rest of the
game.
Kinley
got the win after throwing six four-hit innings and allowing five
runs (three unearned). He was relieved by Rafael Córdova, Samuel
Zazueta and Jake Sánchez, who obtained his second save. The defeated
went to Kelbis Rodríguez (7.1IP/3R/8H).
Monday,
February 6: Mexico 7, Venezuela 0
LMP
Pitcher of the Year Luis Medina came out in “hateful” mode
to throw six shutout innings against host Venezuela (Caracas Leones),
work that was backed by a 13-hit, 7-run offensive attack for Mexico
to win their fourth of five games in the 2023 Caribbean Series in
beating Venezuela, 7 to 0.
The
scoreboard at La Rinconada Stadium posted the first run of the game
in the second inning. Reynaldo Rodríguez led off with a base on
balls, Rodolfo Amador sent him to third with a double and then Joey
Terdoslavich reached 5 RBIs in the Caribbean classic when he sent
both Rodríguez and Amador to the plate with a double.
A
cluster of four runs came to Mexico in the third, when the top of the
batting order opened for the second time. Like Rodriguez in the
second, José Cardona also began the third with a walk, Justin Dean
hit a single that placed men in the corners and then went on to steal
second base. Immediately afterwards, Roberto Valenzuela emptied the
mats with a triple to left-center that marked the exit of Venezuelan
starter J.C. Ramírez, a six-year MLB veteran who pitched two winters
in Culiacan between 2019-21.
However,
reliever Norwith Gudiño could not contain Rodríguez, whose single
took Valenzuela to the promised land.
The
seventh run for Mexico arrived in the upper part of the eighth
inning. Irving López hit a triple and was brought in with a single
by catcher José Heberto Félix.
Miranda
unleashed a total of 93 pitches, 62 of them strikes, with one walk
and seven strikeouts to command the shutout that was completed by
Samuel Zazueta, Brandon Koch, Rafael Córdova and Juan Gamez. Ramírez
took the loss for Venezuela with 2+ innings of labor, allowing five
hits and as many runs.
Tuesday,
February 7: Mexico 2, Panama 1
Team
Mexico triumphed again in Venezuela, this time at Estadio
Forum LaGuaria Stadium, defeating Panama (Chiriqui Federales), 2-1,
thus obtaining their fifth victory in six games at the Serie del
Caribe Gran Caracas 2023.
In a
duel that would ultimately be so
close, Mexico did well to take advantage of their
opportunities from the beginning. They scored in the first inning for
the third time in this tournament, with Reynaldo Rodríguez’s
sacrifice fly to score Irving López, who had singled up the middle
and advanced to third on a fielding error by Panamanian center
fielder Ariel Sandoval.
In the fourth, Panama equaled the
blackboard at 1-1. Jhonny Santos hit a double to score Jahdiel
Santamaria from first and advanced to third on left fielder Julio
Ornelas’ throw home, which failed to beat Santamaria. Mexico got a
second out when starter Braulio Torres-Pérez pounced on a bunt by
Enrique Valdez and nailed Santos at the plate, with Valdez safe at
first. A Joshwan Wright double put two runners in scoring position as
Valdez stopped at third, but the inning ended with a jewel on defense
by Irving López at second who culminated the episode with a throw to
first that beat batter Rodrigo Orozco for the third out with the
score still tied at one run apiece.
Mexico’s
breakthrough came in the bottom of the fifth in old-school style.
José Cardona opened with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice
bunt by López and scored the second (and final) run in a steal of
third that drew a bad throw by Panama catcher Ivan Herrera that
allowed Cardona to scamper the final 90 feet to the plate.
In the
eighth inning, Mexican reliever Rafael Córdova gave up a leadoff
double to Sandoval and hurt his arm in the process. He gave his place
on the mound to Luis Márquez, who was able to finish the inning with
the bases full to maintain Mexico’s 2-1 lead and closer Jake Sanchez
threw a 1-2-3 ninth to seal the deal for the winners.
Torres-Pérez
came away with the victory after throwing 5.2 innings of 1-run, 5-hit
ball, striking out five Panamanians and walking two. He was relieved
by Fabián Cota, Irvin Machuca, Córdova, Márquez and Sánchez, who
obtained his third save in the CS. Defeat was carried by Panama’s
left-handed starter, Davis Romero (4.1IP/2R/4H).
Wednesday,
February 8: Puerto Rico 9, Mexico 3
The
Mexican nine closed their round-robin schedule by falling at Estadio
La Rinconada Stadium, 9-3, to Puerto Rico (Mayagüez Indios) to
finish with a record of 5 victories and 2 losses for a first-place
tie at the conclusion of the first round.
Puerto
Rico put together rallies in the first and fourth innings, making one
and four runs, respectively, off Mexico starter Darel Torres.
Mexico
again showed that their bats were in tune during the fourth inning.
Joey Terdoslavich brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly and a
single from Rookie of the Year Fernando Villegas sent Rodolfo Amador
and Jasson Atondo to the plate, all off Puerto Rican starter Alex
Sanabia, who went 22-23 with a 5.73 ERA in the Mexican League between
2016 and 2019 and pitched for Tijuana’s 2017 Serie del Rey champions.
Puerto
Rico’s lead was expanded with a two-run double by Roby Enriquez
against lefty Luis Márquez in the eighth inning while a two-run
single by Vimael Machin off Irvin Machuca ended the scoring at 9-3 in
favor of the Boricuans.
The
winning pitcher was Sanabia, who worked five 6-hit innings while
allowing three runs. The duel was opened for Team Mexico by Torres,
who took the loss by letting in five runs in 2.2 innings pitched. He
was relieved by Miguel Vázquez, César Vargas, Márquez, Machuca and
Juan Gámez.
Thursday,
February 9: Domincan Republic 7, Mexico 3 (semifinal)
The
Dominican Republic (Licey Tigres) prevailed over Mexico by an 8 to 3
score at the Estadio Forum La Guaira Stadium in their semifinal
matchup in the Serie del Caribe Gran Caracas 2023.
The
Dominicans scored single runs in the first and second innings off
Mexico starter Matt Pobereyko on a bases-loaded Mel Rojas Jr.
sacrifice fly and a Gustavo Nunez single, respectively. Two more
Dominican runs charged to Pobereyko crossed the plate in the fourth
inning when reliever Fabian Cota allowed a two-out, two-run single to
Henry Urrutia, one of the Mexican League’s top hitters for Saltillo
during the summer who turns 36 today.
With
the score 5-0 in favor of the Dominicans, Mexico reacted by scoring a
pair in the bottom of the fourth. With the sacks full, Julián
Ornelas singled Roberto Valenzuela from third to put the Mexicans on
the scoreboard. The second run came thanks to a sacrifice fly by
Jasson Atondo to center that sent Rodolfo Amador to the plate.
The
Dominican Republic expanded their advantage when Kelvin Gutiérrez
homered with Mel Rojas Jr. on board against left-hander Samuel
Zazueta in the seventh to make it a 7-2 game and although Ornelas’
RBI sac fly in the eighth brought Mexico to within four runs, the
Dominicans scored once more in the ninth for their final margin of
victory
Esmil
Rogers pitched six innings for the win, allowing two Mexican runs on
five hits. Poberyko absorbed the loss after letting in four Dominican
runs on six hits over 3.2 innings.
Friday,
February 10: Mexico 1, Colombia 0 (consolation game)
Team
Mexico concluded their participation in the Caribbean Series Gran
Caracas 2023 last Friday, obtaining third place after beating
Colombia (Monteria Vaqueros) in a 1-0 shutout at Estadio La
Rinconada. Jeff Kinley was colossal on the hill after blanking the
Colombians over six innings and scattering four hits and no walks to
take his second victory for the Caribbean classic. Kinley was
relieved by César Vargas and Jake Sánchez. who earned his fourth
save in as many appearances in this Series, tying the all-time
record.
The
only run of the match was produced by Joey Terdoslavich in the sixth
inning with his 7th RBI, a two-out single that sent Irving López to
the plate to gain an advantage for Team Mexico that would never be
lost.
In this
way, the LMP season and the Caribbean Series concludes with Mexico
achieving an historic third place finished, this being the first time
that the bronze game has been played between the two teams that had
fallen in the semifinals. The Dominican Republic shut out Venezuela,
3-0, in Friday night’s championship game to give the representative
Licey Tigres their 11th Serie del Caribe title.
Joey
Terdoslavich was Mexico’s top batsman with a .346 average and seven
RBI, followed by Rudy Amador at .320, Jose Heberto Felix’ .304 mark
and the .294 average of Jose Cardona, whose 10 hits led the team
(which batted an aggregate .234 to finish seventh in the eight-team
field). Jeff Kinley was the best starter with a 2-0 record and 2.25
ERA over 12 innings. Three relievers had 0.00 ERAs in a combined 13
appearances: Jake Sanchez, Fabian Cota and Rafael Cordova. Mexico’s
3.33 team ERA was fourth in the tournament.
The
Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (via CEO Jorge Bauza)
unveiled the All-Stars of the 2023 Caribbean Series. Five members of
the team from Colombia were selected along with two players each from
Mexico and Venezuela, and one apiece from Puerto Rico and the
Dominican Republic.
Mexico
catcher Jose Heberto Felix and first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez were
chosen as players along with Dream Team manager José Moreno, the Los
Mochis pilot who became the first Venezuelan pilot to be tabbed since
Carlos Subero in 2006.
2023
CARIBBEAN SERIES DREAM TEAM:
Catcher:
José Heberto Félix (Mexico)
First
base: Reynaldo Rodríguez (Mexico)
Second
base: Francisco Acuña (Colombia)
Third
base: Emmanuel Rivera (Puerto Rico)
Shortstop:
Dayan Frías (Colombia)
Left
fielder: Danry Vásquez (Venezuela)
Center
fielder: Emilio Bonifacio (Dominican Republic)
Right
fielder: Gustavo Campero (Colombia)
Designated
hitter: Jordan Díaz (Colombia)
Starting
pitcher: Eduardo Díaz (Colombia)
Relief
pitcher: Anthony Vizcaya (Venezuela)
MANAGER:
Jose Moreno (Mexico)
MEXICO’S
WBC ROSTER UNVEILED
The
following story was written by Thomas Harrigan for the MLB.com
website:
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| Alex Verdugo with Mexico-inspired glove |
After
early exits in each of the previous two World Baseball Classics,
Mexico is back in 2023 with a talent-laden roster that could have the
country poised for its deepest WBC run yet. With newcomers such as
Julio Urías, Alejandro Kirk, Randy Arozarena, Rowdy Tellez, Patrick
Sandoval and Taijuan Walker joining the team under manager Benji Gil,
Mexico could be a formidable foe when the 2023 World Baseball Classic
gets underway in March.
Here is
a position-by-position breakdown of Mexico. Within each position,
players are listed in alphabetical order, with any affiliation to an
MLB organization noted in parentheses.
CATCHERS: Austin Barnes (Dodgers), Alejandro Kirk (Blue Jays)
One of
three Dodgers players on Mexico’s roster, Barnes has spent his
entire career with Los Angeles after making his MLB debut in 2015.
The veteran backstop won a World Series title with the team in 2020.
Kirk
earned his first All-Star appearance in 2022, starting behind the
plate for the American League. The 24-year-old won a Silver Slugger
Award after hitting .285 with 14 homers and a .786 OPS over 139 games
for the Blue Jays.
INFIELDERS:
Jonathan Aranda (Rays), Joey Meneses (Nationals), Isaac Paredes
(Rays), Rowdy Tellez (Brewers), Alan Trejo (Rockies), Luis Urías
(Brewers), Roberto Valenzuela
After
playing for Mexico in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Luis Urías
will be joined by Brewers teammate Tellez, who popped a career-high
35 home runs for Milwaukee in 2022. Tellez is one of several
first-base options for Mexico, along with Aranda and Meneses. Paredes
also saw time at first base for the Rays in 2022.
It will
be interesting to see how Meneses performs in his WBC debut after
making his long-awaited big league debut last season and putting up
impressive numbers. The 30-year-old Meneses — who spent time playing
in the Minors, Japan and Mexico before getting the call to the big
leagues — hit .324 with 13 homers and a .930 OPS over 56 games for
Washington.
OUTFIELDERS:
Randy Arozarena (Rays), Jose Cardona, Jarren Duran (Red Sox), Alek
Thomas (D-backs), Alex Verdugo (Red Sox)
Part of
a heavy Rays contingent on Team Mexico, Arozarena is another player
making his WBC debut. Though he was born in Cuba, Arozarena defected
from the country as a 19-year-old in 2015 and settled in Mexico. He
rose to prominence during the 2020 postseason, setting MLB playoff
records for homers (10) and hits (29). His encore? Winning the AL
Rookie of the Year Award in 2021. He became a Mexican citizen in
2022.
Mexico’s
other four outfield options all have MLB experience, too, none more
so than Verdugo, who has played 509 games in the Majors for the
Dodgers and Red Sox and owns a .286/.341/.431 slash with 44 homers in
his career. He played for Team Mexico during the 2017 WBC as well.
PITCHERS
(16): Erubiel Armenta (Phillies)*, Javier Assad (Cubs), Luis Cessa
(Reds), Jesus Cruz (Phillies), Giovanny Gallegos (Cardinals), Adrian
Martinez (A’s), Gerardo Reyes (Angels), Wilmer Rios, JoJo Romero
(Cardinals)*, Jake Sanchez (Padres), Patrick Sandoval (Angels)*,
Julio Urías (Dodgers)*, José Urquidy (Astros), César Vargas,
Taijuan Walker (Phillies), Samuel Zazueta* * denotes
left-handed pitcher
Walker
and Urquidy are among the notable starting options for Team Mexico in
this year’s Classic. Walker, an All-Star with the Mets in 2021, has
posted a career 3.89 ERA over 898 innings in the Majors. Urquidy
doesn’t have as much experience as Walker, but he has made
appearances in three World Series for the Astros and owns a career
3.74 ERA over 342 innings in the regular season.
Mexico
figures to lean on Gallegos in the late innings, with the
right-hander having notched a 2.84 ERA with 33 saves for the
Cardinals over the past four seasons. He made one appearance for
Mexico in the 2017 WBC. Cessa is another bullpen arm on the roster
with significant MLB experience.
After
following up a 20-win season with an NL-leading 2.16 ERA and a
third-place finish in the NL Cy Young Award voting last year, Urías
(unrelated to Luis) is expected to front Team Mexico’s starting
staff in the 2023 Classic. Sandoval, who has recorded a 3.17 ERA for
the Angels over the past two seasons, gives Mexico another impressive
option from the left side.
LMP BALLPARK RENAMED AFTER VALENZUELA
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| Estadio Fernando Valenzuela, Hermosillo |
Hermosillo’s
Estadio Sonora, the showcase ballpark for the Mexican Pacific
League’s Naranjeros since 2013, has been renamed Estadio Fernando
Valenzuela. The decree from the state government (which owns the
16,000-seat facility) was signed by Sonora governor Alfonso Durazo
last week.
After
the Los Angles Dodgers had announced that they will retire
Valenzuela’s number 34, Durazo initially proposed changing the name
of the Hermosillo ballpark in honor of its native son, who was born
in the Navojoa suburb of Etchohuaquila.
“We
recognize his extraordinary career and, therefore, we made the
proposal to change the name of the Sonora Stadium to Fernando
Valenzuela, in honor of the legend and great figure of Mexican
baseball. Congratulations!”, Indicated the state president on his
Twitter account.
It became official on February 9 when it was
reported that a decree published in the Official Gazette of the State
of Sonora indicates that the Sonora Baseball Stadium, located in
Hermosillo, this year will change its name to Fernando Valenzuela
Stadium. Governor Durazo confirmed the report.
Valenzuela,
whom Durazo called “our Sonoran pride,” spent 11 of his 17
years in the Major Leagues with the Dodgers and due to his sporting
and cultural impact, they decided to retire his number 34 so that no
other player can wear it. Now 62, Valenzuela owns the Mexican League’s
Quintana Roo Tigres of Cancun along with wife Linda Burgos
Valenzuela.
The left-handed pitcher made his professional baseball debut with the
Guanajuato Tuzos of the Mexican Center League in 1978 as a
17-year-old, going 5-6 with a 2.33 ERA and a league-leading 91
strikeouts. That was enough for the Mexican League Yucatan Leones to
sign him to a contract for 1979. That year, Valenzuela went 10-12 for
the Leones, showing a 2.49 ERA and striking out 141 batters. The
Dodgers bought his contract from Yucatan and sent him to Lodi of the
Class A California League for three games at season’s end and while
his 1-2 record was unimpressive, Valenzuela’s 1.13 ERA in 24 innings
raised eyebrows with the big club.
One
year later, Valenzuela won two late-season starts and began a
decade-long “Fernandomania” sensation, during which he led the
National League with 180 strikeouts in his rookie 1981, topped the
circuit with 21 wins in 1986, appeared in six consecutive All-Star
Games and three times in the playoffs, including a complete-game 5-4
win over the New York Yankees in the 1981 World Series, which the
Dodgers won in six games.
More
important, Valenzuela came from out of nowhere (as far as MLB fans
were concerned) and became a cultural icon to Mexican fans on both
sides of the border, with attendance at Dodgers Stadium spiking
precipitously whenever he started a game. “El Toro” is arguably
the most beloved Mexican MLB player of all-time.
Estadio
Sonora was completed in early 2013 as a replacement for Estadio
Hector Espino, which is now owned by the federal government with the
intent of repurposing it into a baseball academy. The 2013 Caribbean
Series was the inaugural event at Estadio Sonora and was won by the
Mexican Pacific League champion Obregon Yaquis, a longtime rival of
the hometown Hermosillo Naranjeros. Since its opening, the
16,000-seat facility has ranked at or near the top of rankings of
home ballparks for Mexico’s 28 professional teams.
And now
it will be known as Estadio Fernando Valenzuela, after Mexico’s
top-ranking major league pitcher of all time.