Mexico Bounces U.S. Out of WBC

Game-Ending Double Play Extinguishes a Ninth-Inning Rally: Mexico 2, United States 1

Pinch runner Johnny Damon walks off the field as Mexico celebrates. (By Lucy Nicholson -- Reuters)

ANAHEIM, Calif., March 16 -- The ball and the barrel of Vernon Wells's bat were both bouncing along the ground, but the latter came to rest on the grass while the former went around the horn for a game-ending double play, and just like that the United States was done. The Americans had said there would be no shame in getting sent home early from the World Baseball Classic, that the high level of play around the world, so evident over the previous two weeks, validated the tournament's concept and protected them from criticism.

But when it was all over, when Mexico had put the finishing touches on a 2-1 victory over Team USA in front of 38,284 at Angel Stadium, the scene on the field was incongruous. Mexico's players, who already had been eliminated and had nothing to play for but pride, celebrated wildly on the field, with arms raised and mouths agape, while the U.S. players slinked into their dugout and disappeared.

"Shock," said U.S. designated hitter Alex Rodriguez, describing his emotions at the end. "You almost feel like there should be three or four innings to go. It didn't seem fair, but they beat us fair and square on the field."

The United States' loss means that Japan, which watched the game from its San Diego hotel, will join South Korea, Cuba and the Dominican Republic in Saturday's semifinals at San Diego's Petco Park.

Team USA played six games in the tournament, and won only half of them. And while the U.S. players said all the right things about patriotism, passion and thirst to win, it was hard not to be left with the impression that the other countries cared more and burned with a higher level of intensity, an edge that ultimately outweighed whatever advantage the United States might have had in terms of pure talent.

As their last few precious outs ticked away, the U.S. players appeared emotionless, while Mexico's players celebrated every out. In the ninth inning, Team USA put two runners on base when Chipper Jones and Rodriguez drew consecutive one-out walks -- with Rodriguez's coming off Luis Ayala, the Washington Nationals' reliever, who appeared to injure his arm on his final pitch.

But Wells broke his bat on the first pitch from Mexico right-hander David Cortes, grounding into a game-ending double play.

"We're all disappointed, obviously," Wells said. "But we can't really hang our heads too much."

In a game full of major league stars on both teams, it was an unemployed Texas rancher who drew the most attention. Roger Clemens, 43 years old and at present unsigned as he weighs whether to retire, threw 4 1/3 innings for the U.S. team -- in what could be, but probably won't be, his final meaningful trip to the mound -- and allowed both of Mexico's runs.

Clemens was randomly selected to be drug-tested after the game, and he did not speak to the media. However, in a statement , Clemens again hinted at retirement. "From me, right now," Clemens said, "it's goodbye."

The game was almost marred by another controversial call involving umpire Bob Davidson, who in Thursday night's third inning failed to see Mario Valenzuela's long drive down the right field line hit 10 feet up the foul pole and bounce back onto the field -- an obvious home run, as confirmed by replays. Davidson ruled that the ball was in play, and Valenzuela wound up on second base with a double.

Mexico Manager Paquin Estrada ran onto the field to argue, but after a brief meeting with the other three umpires, Davidson -- who also was at the center of a controversial play in the U.S. team's narrow win over Japan on Sunday -- stuck to the call. As play went on, veteran pitcher Esteban Loaiza emerged from Mexico's dugout holding the ball in question and begged the umpires to inspect it. But he was told to go back to his dugout.

Valenzuela wound up scoring anyway, on a two-out single by Jorge Cantu, but by that point, the charmed existence of the Americans had reached the point of absurdity. Already, they were viewed as having a favorable draw that paved their way into the semifinals. Then, after a loss to South Korea on Monday took their fate out of their own hands, the Americans were spared elimination by South Korea's win over Japan on Wednesday night.

"We got every break to make it this far," Jeter said.

Because of the tournament's nearly indecipherable tiebreaker rules -- the first criterion of which is runs allowed per inning played on defense -- Mexico's run off Clemens actually eliminated Mexico in midgame. However, if they were aware, Mexico's players certainly did not appear to let up.

In their underground clubhouse , the U.S. players could hear Mexico's rowdy fans chanting and singing . The Americans will return to their teams in Arizona and Florida on Friday, telling themselves and anyone who cares to listen that they are not failures.