Chile made its debut at the 2023 Pan American Games on Wednesday, but it’s one they’ll want to forget.
The host team was no-hit by No. 3 world ranked Mexico, losing 16-0 in five innings via the mercy rule.
The Pan American Games baseball tournament will be seven innings for all games.
Five Mexico pitchers – starter Wilmer Rios and relievers Faustino Carrera, Francisco Hao, Samuel Zazuetta, and Jesus Cruz – combined for one walk and six strikeouts during Wednesday’s win.
Chile’s pitching staff allowed 13 hits, 14 earned runs, 13 walks, and one strikeout.
Mexico got on the board first in the top of the first inning when shortstop Roberto Valenzuela’s broken bat RBI single with two outs to left field scored Norberto Gonzalez for a 1-0 Mexico lead. During designated Miguel Guzman’s at-bat, first baseman Roberto Ramos came in to score on a passed ball to extend the lead to 2-0.
In the top of the third inning, Mexico extended their lead to four when Guzman ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Ramos and Valenzuela.
Mexico’s offense did not look back the rest of the way, pouring on the offense as they unraveled the Chilean pitching arms.
Mexico center fielder Randy Romero in his two at-bats ended up with one hit, two runs scored, one RBI, and two walks in his offensive performance.
Mexico right fielder Fernando Villegas with his five at-bats had three hits, two runs scored, and three RBI, and third baseman Jesus Avila in three at-bats had two runs scored, three hits, one RBI, and one walk.
Chile (0-1) will play world No. 12 Panama at 2 p.m. EDT on October 21 at Cerrillos Bicentennial Park. Mexico will play on October 21 against No. 9 Dominican Republic at 8:30 p.m. EDT at Cerrillos Bicentennial Park. All Pan American Games will be live streamed for free on https://www.panamsportschannel.org/main.
