Jehanz Coro pitched a gem as the RP Blu Boys earned their breakthrough win in the 18th WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup group stage with a 3-1 triumph over host team Mexico on Saturday morning (Manila time) at the Estadio Fernando M. Ortiz in Hermosillo.
Coro, an 18-year-old left-handed pitcher, threw a 111-pitch complete game, allowing just three hits while fanning five Mexican sluggers.
The Philippines is now 1-2 in Group A, boosting their hopes of finishing in the top four of the six-nation pool for a chance to enter the Finals stage set for July 2025 in Canada.
On the offensive end, Mark Sarmiento delivered, going a perfect 3-for-3 at-bat, including one run-batted-in.
In the top of the second inning, the Blu Boys opened the scoring with runners on the corners.
On a passed ball, the 38-year-old De Castro reached home for the first run of the match while Kobe Torres advanced to second base.
Then Sarmiento hit a single to right field, pushing Torres home to make it 2-0 for the Nationals.
The ninth-ranked Mexico was able to get one run back in the bottom of the third inning on an Edgar Lopez base hit that sent Jesus Cardona to the plate, narrowing the score to 2-1.
An insurance run was added by the Blu Boys in the top of the seventh inning when another passed ball by Mexico allowed Sarmiento to cross home for the final score.
Coro did not give the walk-off-looking Mexicans any chance in the bottom of the seventh, retiring Christian Del Valle, Abelardo Penuelas, and Cardona.
Up next for the Blu Boys is a tough double-header tomorrow, facing 2-0 Venezuela at 9 a.m. and Czechia at 12:00 PM (Manila time).
