by John Manuel
March 9, 2006

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC Pool B - Arizona Game Reports March 10 • USA 17, South Africa 0 March 9 • Mexico 9, Canada 1 March 8: • Canada 8, United States 6 • Mexico 10, South Africa 4 March 7: • USA 2, Mexico 0 • Canada 11, South Africa 8

A day after throwing a scare into Pool B leader Canada, South Africa couldn't quite do the same against Mexico. Jorge Cantu and Vinny Castilla had three hits apiece and Adrian Gonzalez had two hits and two RBIs to pace Mexico's 12-hit attack. The Mexicans scored in six of their eight half-innings to improve to 1-1 in the tournament.

Righty Francisco Campos, Mexico's 2005 Caribbean Series hero on the mound, threw four innings and got relief help from former Devil Rays farmhand Pablo Ortega, who fanned five in two innings. Shortstop Brett Willemburg had four hits for South Africa, which had 11 as a team and has been better than advertised in its first two games. South Africa turned three doubles plays.