Colombia Stuns Panama, Mexico Advances In WBC

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Qualifier No. 3:  Panama City, Panama
Teams: Spain, France, Panama, Colombia
Schedule:
March 17 (All Times EST)
Colombia 9, Spain 2
Panama 9, France 2
March 18
France 5, Spain 3
Colombia 6, Panama 3
March 19
Panama vs. France, 9 p.m.
March 20
Colombia vs. Panama-France winner, 7 p.m.

Colombia 6, Panama 3

Former Diamondbacks farmhand Karl Triana did not allow a hit in his six innings—removed only because of a 85-pitch WBC limit—striking out eight, as Colombia upset host Panama to move to the finals of the WBC Qualifier Friday night.

Pitchers who throw more than 50 pitches in a game cannot pitch in the next game under WBC rules.

Triana, who was 10-12, 4.29 in parts of three seasons with the Diamondbacks organization, reaching just short-season ball, topped out at 92 mph, but kept hitters off balance, manager Luis Urueta, the short-season field coordinator for Diamondbacks who knows Triana from his days in the organization.

“He had a great outing, a solid outing,” Urueta told reporters. “Maximized his innings. Eighty-five pitches max and he went six innings, that was unbelievable. Got ahead of counts in every inning and he had his fastball command on both sides of the plate. Changeup was effective. I think the way he got out hitters like Carlos Ruiz was unbelievable. This is probably the best outing I’ve seen from him and I’ve known him for a while.”

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera had an RBI single and Twins farmhand Reynaldo Rodriguez drove in two runs, including a solo homer in the seventh.

Padres top prospect Javier Guerra had Panama’s first hit, homering in the seventh off lefthander Carlos Diaz.

Colombia will play the winner of Saturday’s game between France and Panama.

France 5, Spain 3

France got its first-ever WBC win, holding on to eliminate Spain in the Panama City qualifier.

France moves on to play the loser of the Colombia-Panama game later Friday.

France grabbed a 3-0 lead in the first inning, using five singles to grab the lede and support starter Leonel Cespedes, who allowed five hits and an unearned run in 4 2/3 innings.

“I think we’re going to celebrate a little bit tonight, just enjoy that and think about it tomorrow morning when we wake up,” French manager Eric Gagne, the former Dodgers all-star closer, told reporters. “We’re just going to enjoy every moment, every minute out there. We’re not going to really look at the scouting report or stuff like that. We’re just going to stay within ourselves and do what we know. Hopefully, we can go out there and compete, and we’ll have a chance to win.”

Andy Paz, the A’s catcher and only player on France in affiliated ball, was 1-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Luis Guillorme, the Mets’ No. 12 prospect and MVP of the South Atlantic League, started at shortstop for Spain and was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two walks.

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MEXICALI QUALIFIER

Qualifier No. 2:  Mexicali, Mexico
Teams: Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, Nicaragua
Schedule:
March 17 (All Times EST)
Nicaragua 5, Germany 4, 10 innings
Mexico 2, Czech Republic 1
March 18
Czech Republic 15, Germany 3
Mexico 11, Nicaragua 0
March 19
Czech Republic vs. Nicaragua, 9 p.m.
March 20
Mexico vs. Czech Republic-Nicaragua winner, 10 p.m.

Mexico 11, Nicaragua 0

Mexico took advantage of seven walks—two to Dodgers star Adrian Gonzalez—and three errors to rout Nicaragua in a game called in the seventh due to international run rules.

The host team will play the winner of the Czech Republic and Nicaragua, who play Saturday night.

The game began ominously for Nicaragua as its top player, Reds’ No. 7 prospect Alex Blandino—who had the winning hit against Germany on Thursday—was scratched from the lineup due to an injury, reportedly a thigh injury.

Mariners farmhand Steve Landazuri got the start for Mexico pitched three hitless innings and departed with 49 pitches, meaning he could come back Sunday if needed.

Czech Republic 15, Germany 3

Four years after the Czech Republic was battered 16-1 in the WBC by Germany, the Czechs got a measure of revenge by eliminating the Germans on Friday.

Indians catcher Martin Cervenka, the Czechs’ only player in affiliated ball, hit a grand slam in a seven-run eighth inning. Mike Cervenak, who got 13 major league at-bats and hit 182 homers in the minors with several organizations, was 4-for-5 with three RBIs.

The Czech Republic next plays the loser of Mexico-Nicaragua, who meet later Friday.