Late show from Arranda hands Mexico opening win against valiant Great Britain

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aranda-jonathan/QsWmwYBk/"]Arranda[/a] of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-rays/GCHgI4hp/"]Tampa Bay Rays[/a] smacked an opposite-field shot into [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-astros/lfZXonNq/"]Houston[/a]'s Daikin Park's Crawford Boxes to break the game open after Britain had hung in throughout the contest.[/p][p]In front of a partisan crowd, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-jr-nacho/UXXPWUkp/"]Nacho Alvarez Jr.[/a] got the party started in the second inning, homering off of GB's starting pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/anderson-jack/QRVv4TT4/"]Jack Anderson[/a].[/p][p]But, in truth, it was a difficult day for the 2023 semi-finalists who struggled at the plate as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/great-britain/2iGVi47K/"]Great Britain[/a]'s pitching got out of plenty of jams.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ford-harry/ObwtYEmA/"]Harry Ford[/a] - Britain's catcher and breakout star of the WBC in 2023 - levelled the scores with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth before Arranda settled the tie with a homer of his own, and his teammates scored a further four runs in the final inning of both teams' opening match of the WBC.[/p][embed guid="0683ad59-e42f-4dc8-b6eb-d8ab5414d5d2" url="https://x.com/WBCBaseball/status/2030021432621572217" social-type="twitter" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/ptt8Lj5l/"]Mexico[/a] were firm favourites for the contest, with their line-up full of MLB talent including [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/arozarena-randy/byggI2vK/"]Randy Arozarena[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kirk-alejandro/8ApqJBel/"]Alejandro Kirk[/a] and speed merchant [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kelenic-jarred/Y7UMieUi/"]Jarred Durran[/a].[/p][p]Anderson was thrown into the deep end starting up for the Brits, but he held his own, conceding just one run as he threw three innings of two-hit ball.[/p][p]His opposite number, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/assad-javier/zcaA44Zf/"]Javier Assad[/a] of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-cubs/j7ZnBQFi/"]Chicago Cubs[/a], went 3.2 innings with two hits and three strikeouts. Both bullpens had their struggles, but the game was still tied as it entered the top of the seventh.[/p][p]Up stepped Arranda. The burly first baseman cashed in walks from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duran-jarren/fB7aPT96/"]Duran[/a] and Arozarena to set Houston alight, with the Mexican fans going wild as the ball sailed over the fence.[/p][p]His reaction showed just what it meant to him and his teammates. Despite the mismatch in perceived quality with a 346-foot shot, every win is vital at the WBC, and Arranda slapped the dugout with gusto after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/baseball/great-britain-2iGVi47K/mexico-ptt8Lj5l/?mid=EJGWiG2t"]all but sealing the win[/a].[/p][embed guid="5874291c-3479-4714-986e-6f977c35e51b" url="https://x.com/WBCBaseball/status/2030022811658362954" social-type="twitter" /][p]They would tack on another two runs in the ninth, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thomas-alek/0AfFkex8/"]Alek Thomas[/a] squeezing a single up the middle to score [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gonzalez-nick/xzfobvEB/"]Nick Gonzalez[/a] from third base and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/serna-jared/86LhxhRe/"]Jared Serna[/a] from second. Thomas would score himself soon after, running around the bases to make it 7-1 after a double down the right-field line from Joey Ortiz to end the contest.[/p][p]Arozarena would then also get a hit to cash in another before Arranda would strike out to end the carnage.[/p][p]Star Seattle Mariners closer [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/munoz-andreas/K4ULDLEc/"]Andreas Munoz[/a] then came into the game for Mexico, and GB were able to score a consolation run off a double from Trayce Thompson.[/p][p]For Great Britain's biggest name, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/chisholm-jazz/pGqQ2cQJ/"]Jazz Chisholm Jr[/a] of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-yankees/SrC4LDIT/"]New York Yankees[/a], it was a disappointing day. He went 0-4 in the game, and he will hope for better in their upcoming clashes.[/p][p]It gets no easier for the British side on Saturday night/Sunday morning, as they take on tournament favourites the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/dSweSEc8/"]USA[/a] in Houston [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/baseball/great-britain-2iGVi47K/usa-dSweSEc8/?mid=zZ4ujfXh"]from 02:00 CET[/a], where they will face reigning Cy Young holder, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/skubal-tarik/zuS2jB1J/"]Tarik Skubal[/a].[/p][p]Mexico have a rare day off on Saturday in this congested tournament, with their next game in Houston coming against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/IqbFg267/"]Brazil[/a] on March 9th [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/baseball/brazil-IqbFg267/mexico-ptt8Lj5l/?mid=EcsQ4qh5"]at 01:00 CET[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/baseball/world/world-baseball-classic/"]Follow all the action from the World Baseball Classic with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]