Mexico throttles Francis Canada's loss enables U.S. to advance - if it beats South Africa.(Sports)

Byline: Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News

PHOENIX -- Team USA was the beneficiary Thursday of a meltdown by Jeff Francis, a forgettable outing that could have been shrugged off in the Cactus League but carried a high price for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Mexico strafed Francis, knocking him out in the second on the way to a 9-1 victory before 15,744 at Chase Field. That win enabled Team USA to advance to Round 2 of the WBC, barring the unthinkable - a loss against South Africa in the final Pool B game at 1 p.m. today.

A victory against South Africa would leave the United States, Canada and Mexico with 2-1 records in the tournament. Based on the runs allowed per inning in games involving these three teams, the United States and Mexico will move on to Anaheim, Calif., where Mexico will play South Korea, winner of Pool A, on Sunday, and the United States - if it beats South Africa - will play Japan.

In all probability, the loss against Mexico eliminated Canada and sent Francis back to spring training with the Colorado Rockies. He gave up six runs and six hits - all for extra bases - in 1 1/3 innings.

Francis began the game by retiring Juan Castro and Jorge Cantu on a total of four pitches. After hitting Vinny Castilla in the left arm with a 3-2 pitch, Francis yielded four consecutive two-out doubles, all of them hit hard.

He surrendered a leadoff double in the second inning and walked dejectedly to Canada's dugout after Cantu walloped a 460-foot home run to left on his 36th pitch.

"I left pitches up," Francis said. "Good hitters are going to hit pitches like that. The ball to Vinny got away, and after that, early in the count, they were swinging. I tried to throw strikes.

"It's a very disappointing feeling. The team put a lot of confidence in me to start a game like that."

Team USA will send Roger Clemens to the mound against South Africa, an extremely young team that is 0-2 in the tournament but has gained a reputation for partying .

At Team USA's workout Thursday, outfielder Johnny Damon was asked what he and his teammates knew about South Africa.

"We do not know much," Damon said. "We know there's a couple guys playing pro ball and some really young kids enjoying Scottsdale."

When those young players return home, they will have tales to tell about facing Clemens, winner of 341 games in what might be one of the final games in his storied career. A 17-year-old high school player stepping into the batter's box against Clemens, second all time with 4,502 strikeouts?

Putting himself in that position at the age of 17, Damon said, "I would be jacked up, but I would be worried about that high-and-tight pitch."

Francis' stumble ended the need for the Team USA players to worry about the higher math needed to determine which two of three 2-1 teams advance.

"We thought there was going to be a clear-cut winner and a clear-cut loser," Damon said. "This tiebreaking stuff - you got to go so school for it."

"One of the guys asked me, and I tried to regurgitate it," U.S. catcher Michael Barrett said. "That was a circus. Have you ever played Balderdash? That's what it was like when I was explaining it. It was like, 'OK, are you serious?' And I was like, 'No.' "

Once Mexico scored its third run, the tiebreaking rule swept the United States into Round 2, pending a miracle today by South Africa. Team USA manager Buck Martinez was at Chase Field watching Francis' early struggle and getting reports about the consequences.

"My son called me from New York when it was 1-0 and said, 'You guys are looking better.' He called me back when it was 3-0 and said, 'You're looking good now,' " Martinez said.

After the loss, Francis' look at the WBC became a retrospective, three games wearing the uniform of his country in global competition.

"It was awesome, especially that atmosphere out there (Thursday)," Francis said of the tournament. "It was something you don't experience playing in the major leagues. It was something special."

Something miraculous might be needed today against Clemens for South Africa, which will start right-hander Carl Michaels.

Michaels, 24, went 14-6 with a 2.02 earned-run average last year in the Cape Town League and Western Province Summer League. Clemens is using the WBC to gauge his future. He might retire. Or he might return to Houston, no sooner than May 1. In the interim, he's giving the WBC a whirl, and today will take the mound in what is expected to be a man-against-boys encounter.

"They might not even know who they're facing," Canada manager Ernie Whitt said. "It would be nice to give them a scare anyway."

Mexico......420201000-9140

Canada......000001000-142

Loaiza, Perez (6), De La Rosa (7), Rincon (9), Ayala (9) and Ojeda; Francis, Meyers (2), Quantrill (4), Myette (6), Cormier (6), Reitsma (7), Crain (8), Perkins (9) and Laforest. W - Loaiza. L - Francis. HR - Mexico, Cantu, Valenzuela.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Team Canada left-hander Jeff Francis, who also pitches for the Colorado Rockies, walks dejectedly off the mound Thursday after getting roughed up by Mexico in World Baseball Classic in Phoenix. MATT YORK / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico throttles Francis Canada's loss enables U.S. to advance - if it beats South Africa.(Sports)

Byline: Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News

PHOENIX -- Team USA was the beneficiary Thursday of a meltdown by Jeff Francis, a forgettable outing that could have been shrugged off in the Cactus League but carried a high price for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Mexico strafed Francis, knocking him out in the second on the way to a 9-1 victory before 15,744 at Chase Field. That win enabled Team USA to advance to Round 2 of the WBC, barring the unthinkable - a loss against South Africa in the final Pool B game at 1 p.m. today.

A victory against South Africa would leave the United States, Canada and Mexico with 2-1 records in the tournament. Based on the runs allowed per inning in games involving these three teams, the United States and Mexico will move on to Anaheim, Calif., where Mexico will play South Korea, winner of Pool A, on Sunday, and the United States - if it beats South Africa - will play Japan.

In all probability, the loss against Mexico eliminated Canada and sent Francis back to spring training with the Colorado Rockies. He gave up six runs and six hits - all for extra bases - in 1 1/3 innings.

Francis began the game by retiring Juan Castro and Jorge Cantu on a total of four pitches. After hitting Vinny Castilla in the left arm with a 3-2 pitch, Francis yielded four consecutive two-out doubles, all of them hit hard.

He surrendered a leadoff double in the second inning and walked dejectedly to Canada's dugout after Cantu walloped a 460-foot home run to left on his 36th pitch.

"I left pitches up," Francis said. "Good hitters are going to hit pitches like that. The ball to Vinny got away, and after that, early in the count, they were swinging. I tried to throw strikes.

"It's a very disappointing feeling. The team put a lot of confidence in me to start a game like that."

Team USA will send Roger Clemens to the mound against South Africa, an extremely young team that is 0-2 in the tournament but has gained a reputation for partying .

At Team USA's workout Thursday, outfielder Johnny Damon was asked what he and his teammates knew about South Africa.

"We do not know much," Damon said. "We know there's a couple guys playing pro ball and some really young kids enjoying Scottsdale."

When those young players return home, they will have tales to tell about facing Clemens, winner of 341 games in what might be one of the final games in his storied career. A 17-year-old high school player stepping into the batter's box against Clemens, second all time with 4,502 strikeouts?

Putting himself in that position at the age of 17, Damon said, "I would be jacked up, but I would be worried about that high-and-tight pitch."

Francis' stumble ended the need for the Team USA players to worry about the higher math needed to determine which two of three 2-1 teams advance.

"We thought there was going to be a clear-cut winner and a clear-cut loser," Damon said. "This tiebreaking stuff - you got to go so school for it."

"One of the guys asked me, and I tried to regurgitate it," U.S. catcher Michael Barrett said. "That was a circus. Have you ever played Balderdash? That's what it was like when I was explaining it. It was like, 'OK, are you serious?' And I was like, 'No.' "

Once Mexico scored its third run, the tiebreaking rule swept the United States into Round 2, pending a miracle today by South Africa. Team USA manager Buck Martinez was at Chase Field watching Francis' early struggle and getting reports about the consequences.

"My son called me from New York when it was 1-0 and said, 'You guys are looking better.' He called me back when it was 3-0 and said, 'You're looking good now,' " Martinez said.

After the loss, Francis' look at the WBC became a retrospective, three games wearing the uniform of his country in global competition.

"It was awesome, especially that atmosphere out there (Thursday)," Francis said of the tournament. "It was something you don't experience playing in the major leagues. It was something special."

Something miraculous might be needed today against Clemens for South Africa, which will start right-hander Carl Michaels.

Michaels, 24, went 14-6 with a 2.02 earned-run average last year in the Cape Town League and Western Province Summer League. Clemens is using the WBC to gauge his future. He might retire. Or he might return to Houston, no sooner than May 1. In the interim, he's giving the WBC a whirl, and today will take the mound in what is expected to be a man-against-boys encounter.

"They might not even know who they're facing," Canada manager Ernie Whitt said. "It would be nice to give them a scare anyway."

Mexico......420201000-9140

Canada......000001000-142

Loaiza, Perez (6), De La Rosa (7), Rincon (9), Ayala (9) and Ojeda; Francis, Meyers (2), Quantrill (4), Myette (6), Cormier (6), Reitsma (7), Crain (8), Perkins (9) and Laforest. W - Loaiza. L - Francis. HR - Mexico, Cantu, Valenzuela.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Team Canada left-hander Jeff Francis, who also pitches for the Colorado Rockies, walks dejectedly off the mound Thursday after getting roughed up by Mexico in World Baseball Classic in Phoenix. MATT YORK / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico throttles Francis Canada's loss enables U.S. to advance - if it beats South Africa.(Sports)

Byline: Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News

PHOENIX -- Team USA was the beneficiary Thursday of a meltdown by Jeff Francis, a forgettable outing that could have been shrugged off in the Cactus League but carried a high price for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.

Mexico strafed Francis, knocking him out in the second on the way to a 9-1 victory before 15,744 at Chase Field. That win enabled Team USA to advance to Round 2 of the WBC, barring the unthinkable - a loss against South Africa in the final Pool B game at 1 p.m. today.

A victory against South Africa would leave the United States, Canada and Mexico with 2-1 records in the tournament. Based on the runs allowed per inning in games involving these three teams, the United States and Mexico will move on to Anaheim, Calif., where Mexico will play South Korea, winner of Pool A, on Sunday, and the United States - if it beats South Africa - will play Japan.

In all probability, the loss against Mexico eliminated Canada and sent Francis back to spring training with the Colorado Rockies. He gave up six runs and six hits - all for extra bases - in 1 1/3 innings.

Francis began the game by retiring Juan Castro and Jorge Cantu on a total of four pitches. After hitting Vinny Castilla in the left arm with a 3-2 pitch, Francis yielded four consecutive two-out doubles, all of them hit hard.

He surrendered a leadoff double in the second inning and walked dejectedly to Canada's dugout after Cantu walloped a 460-foot home run to left on his 36th pitch.

"I left pitches up," Francis said. "Good hitters are going to hit pitches like that. The ball to Vinny got away, and after that, early in the count, they were swinging. I tried to throw strikes.

"It's a very disappointing feeling. The team put a lot of confidence in me to start a game like that."

Team USA will send Roger Clemens to the mound against South Africa, an extremely young team that is 0-2 in the tournament but has gained a reputation for partying .

At Team USA's workout Thursday, outfielder Johnny Damon was asked what he and his teammates knew about South Africa.

"We do not know much," Damon said. "We know there's a couple guys playing pro ball and some really young kids enjoying Scottsdale."

When those young players return home, they will have tales to tell about facing Clemens, winner of 341 games in what might be one of the final games in his storied career. A 17-year-old high school player stepping into the batter's box against Clemens, second all time with 4,502 strikeouts?

Putting himself in that position at the age of 17, Damon said, "I would be jacked up, but I would be worried about that high-and-tight pitch."

Francis' stumble ended the need for the Team USA players to worry about the higher math needed to determine which two of three 2-1 teams advance.

"We thought there was going to be a clear-cut winner and a clear-cut loser," Damon said. "This tiebreaking stuff - you got to go so school for it."

"One of the guys asked me, and I tried to regurgitate it," U.S. catcher Michael Barrett said. "That was a circus. Have you ever played Balderdash? That's what it was like when I was explaining it. It was like, 'OK, are you serious?' And I was like, 'No.' "

Once Mexico scored its third run, the tiebreaking rule swept the United States into Round 2, pending a miracle today by South Africa. Team USA manager Buck Martinez was at Chase Field watching Francis' early struggle and getting reports about the consequences.

"My son called me from New York when it was 1-0 and said, 'You guys are looking better.' He called me back when it was 3-0 and said, 'You're looking good now,' " Martinez said.

After the loss, Francis' look at the WBC became a retrospective, three games wearing the uniform of his country in global competition.

"It was awesome, especially that atmosphere out there (Thursday)," Francis said of the tournament. "It was something you don't experience playing in the major leagues. It was something special."

Something miraculous might be needed today against Clemens for South Africa, which will start right-hander Carl Michaels.

Michaels, 24, went 14-6 with a 2.02 earned-run average last year in the Cape Town League and Western Province Summer League. Clemens is using the WBC to gauge his future. He might retire. Or he might return to Houston, no sooner than May 1. In the interim, he's giving the WBC a whirl, and today will take the mound in what is expected to be a man-against-boys encounter.

"They might not even know who they're facing," Canada manager Ernie Whitt said. "It would be nice to give them a scare anyway."

Mexico......420201000-9140

Canada......000001000-142

Loaiza, Perez (6), De La Rosa (7), Rincon (9), Ayala (9) and Ojeda; Francis, Meyers (2), Quantrill (4), Myette (6), Cormier (6), Reitsma (7), Crain (8), Perkins (9) and Laforest. W - Loaiza. L - Francis. HR - Mexico, Cantu, Valenzuela.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Team Canada left-hander Jeff Francis, who also pitches for the Colorado Rockies, walks dejectedly off the mound Thursday after getting roughed up by Mexico in World Baseball Classic in Phoenix. MATT YORK / ASSOCIATED PRESS