Mexico, Panama Win WBC Openers

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SEE ALSO: Mexicali, Panama Rosters

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 vs. Spain, 2 p.m.
Panama vs. Colombia, 9 p.m.
March 19
TBD vs. TBD, 9 p.m.
March 20
Finalist vs. finalist, 7 p.m.

Panama 9, France 2

Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz homered twice and drove in four runs as host Panama routed France.

Ruiz, 36, is playing in his fourth WBC tournament but still feels the excitement of representing his country.

“It’s all about being positive,” Ruiz told reporters through a translator. “I believe I’m still a young player. I feel like a 26-year-old, not a 36-year-old. I’m proud to play with a team that has young players and such an experienced coaching staff—especially guys I played with like (manager) Carlos Lee, (bench coach) Olmedo Saenz and (pitching coach) Lenin Picota.”

Nationals righthander Paolo Espino started for Panama and was perfect through three innings, striking out four. WBC rules mandate a 50-pitch limit.

Javier Guerra, the Padres’ top prospect, hit a two-run homer in the fifth for the winners.

Colombia 9, Spain 2

Red Sox righthander William Cuevas pitched four hitless innings and Royals infielder Mauricio Ramos drove in two runs as Colombia beat Spain in the opener of the Panama City World Baseball Classic Qualifier.

Mets second baseman Dilson Herrera walked three times and drove in a run and Twins outfielder Reynaldo Rodriguez scored three times and had a triple among his two hits for the winners. Pirates outfielder Harold Ramirez, No. 95 on the Top 100 Prospects, was 1-for-6 but scored twice as Colombia took advantage of 12 walks from Spain.

Miss Rey Ordonez, @Mets fans? Prospect Luis Guillorme has you covered: https://t.co/qP35wbtWJb pic.twitter.com/RPexNrmLWW

— Cut4 (@Cut4) March 17, 2016

Luis Guillorme, the Mets’ No. 12 prospect and MVP of the South Atlantic League, started at shortstop for Spain and was 0-for-5. Former Dodgers farmhand Jesus Golindano had three hits.

Colombia, Spain, France and host Panama are competing for one spot in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

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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 vs. Germany, 3:30 p.m.
Mexico vs. Nicaragua, 10:30 p.m.
March 19
TBD vs. TBD, 9 p.m.
March 20
Finalist vs. finalist, 10 p.m.

Mexico 2, Czech Republic 1

Host Mexico, the overwhelming favorite in this qualifier, scored twice in the first inning and held on to beat the scrappy Czechs.

Jesse Castillo had an RBI single and Agustin Murillo had a sacrifice fly as Mexico took advantage of two walks—one to the Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez. Former Padres lefthander Alejandro Soto was dominant in three hitless innings, striking out seven before being removed as he was just two pitches short of the tournament’s 50-pitch limit.

Reds outfielder Sebastian Elizalde was 0-for-4, while former Astros outfielder Leo Heras was 1-for-3. Matej Hejma homered in the eighth for the Czechs’ only run as veteran lefthander Oliver Perez closed out the win.

Nicaragua 5, Germany 4, 10 innings

Nicaragua provides thrills in Mexicali with 10th inning #walkoff victory. 🇳🇮 #WBChttps://t.co/jg3XNRlRUs pic.twitter.com/y81AmyTPnB

— WBC Baseball (@WBCBaseball) March 18, 2016

Alex Blandino, the Reds’ No. 7 prospect, ripped a two-run double in the 10th inning after Germany had grabbed the lead and give Nicaragua a 5-4 win in the opener of the Mexicali World Baseball Classic Qualifier.

The double scored Rangers outfielder Jairo Beras, who had singled, and Darrel Campbell, who led off with an infield single.

Blandino had two doubles and three RBIs for Nicaragua, which led 2-0 until A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell hit a three-run homer in the sixth off Samuel Estrada.

Facing the upset, Nicaragua tied it in the ninth on a single by former Braves shortstop Elmer Reyes. The Germans regained the lead in the 10th when Ludwig Glaser doubled home Reds farmhand Donald Lutz.