Three strikes and they're out: Israel ended Mexico's baseball run at Tokyo 2020 with a 12-5 drubbing.
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Mexico's disappointing departure from their first Olympic baseball tournament followed just one extra-base hit over their first two games and a rough start on Sunday from pitcher Manny Barreda, whom Israel pounded for six runs in three innings.
Israel punched in another six runs in the seventh inning when hitting against one-time Major Leaguer Oliver Perez.
Israel on Monday will face the winner of a game later on Sunday between South Korea and the Dominican Republic.
On Sunday, Mexico scored most of their runs in the third inning against Israel starter Josh Zeid, whose day job is coaching Chicago Cubs pitchers recovering from injury.
Mexico pulled to 6-5 in the sixth before Israel's bullpen shut them down.
Israel's Danny Valencia swatted a hanging curve over the left-field wall for a three-run homer and likely the tournament's longest blast (official records are not being kept).
Nick Rickles, whose normal job is in health care, also had three runs batted in for Israel. Mitch Glasser and Zach Penprase brought in two each.
Zack Weiss (1-0) got the win by allowing one run in two innings. Israel had 12 hits and set a tournament-high for runs.
"It's a fairy tale they were able to qualify," Mexico coach Benji Gil had said last week of underdog Israel, which also are new to the Olympics.
"Many people looked down on them but hats off," Gil said in admiration.
Unfortunately for Mexico, the caps are not coming back on.
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