Mexico off to WBC semis for 1st time with comeback win over Puerto Rico

Mexico advanced to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic for the first time in the country's history thanks to a 5-4 comeback victory over Puerto Rico on Friday.

The Mexicans will now face Japan on Monday for a spot in the finals.

Puerto Rico exploded with four runs in the first inning, punctuated by back-to-back home runs by Javier Baez and Eddie Rosario off Mexican ace Julio Urias. However, Mexico responded with one run in the second, another run in the fifth, and three in the seventh.

Luis Urias was responsible for the eventual game-winning hit thanks to a late RBI single:

Outfielder Randy Arozarena also saved Mexico with a great leaping catch near the wall to preserve the one-run lead in the eighth:

"That was better than any home run I've ever hit in the big leagues. That was better than the home run I hit in the World Series. That catch was the best," Arozarena said postgame through a translator, according to Fox Sports.

Alexis Diaz, the brother of injured star closer Edwin Diaz, took the loss for Puerto Rico after surrendering three earned runs and failing to record an out in the seventh.