Robinson Cano Leads Mexico City To BCL Title

Image credit: Photo courtesy of WBSC)

Long-time MLB star Robinson Cano led the Mexico City Diablos Rojos the the Baseball Champions League title as the Mexican League champs knocked off Cuba’s Serie Nacional champion Las Tunas Leñadores in the championship game.

Cano homered in the first to start a 4-for-5 day. He scored two runs and was named the game’s MVP. Jose Rondon homered in the second to extend the lead. Luis Liberato also scored two runs as part of a 2-for-5 day.

For the tournament, Cano hit .684/.727/1.053 with two home runs and six runs scored in four games. Kane County’s Dayson Croes led all hitters with a .706 batting average. Cuba’s Rafael Vinales led all hitters with four home runs in five games. Croes, Juremi Profar and Yoelkis Guibert all hit three home runs.

On the mound, Jose Bravo, Conner Menez, Tomohiro Anraku, Trevor Clifton and Stephen Nogosek combined to hold Cuba to one run on five hits. Guibert and center fielder Roel Santos each had two hits for Cuba.

This was the second year of the Baseball Champions League, which brings together league champions from six different countries around North and Central America. The American Association champs won the inaugural title last season.

This year, the American Association’s Kane County Cougars were knocked off 17-10 by Las Tunas in the semifinals, as the Cuban team avenged its first-round loss to the Cougars. Mexico City defeated the Santa Maria Pirates 17-8 in the other semifinal.