Stunned US KO'd by Mexico in WBC

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- When it came to relying on others -- teams and umpires -- the United States caught all the breaks. But when it came to doing it on their own, needing just one win to advance to the semifinals in San Diego this weekend, the Americans couldn't muster ingenuity against a team already eliminated from semifinal contention.

In the end, the US suffered a 2-1 loss to Team Mexico last night, and was eliminated from the first World Baseball Classic before 38,264 at Angels Stadium.

''I couldn't be more proud of how these guys have gone about their business from Day 1," said US manager Buck Martinez. ''You know there was a lot of talk about Team USA not really taking this seriously, but I can guarantee you, there are a lot of guys hurting in that clubhouse right now."

With Roger Clemens on the hill, the US was heavily favored to beat Mexico in what might have been Clemens's last competitive game. Clemens did not come to the interview room after the game, because, according to major league sources, he was asked to submit to a random drug test.

After much worrying if last night's game was going to mean anything, anxious US players were buoyed by Korea's 2-1 win over Japan Wednesday night, which basically gave the Americans a clear path to the semis -- with a victory over Mexico.

Clemens lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed two runs, but subpar hitting (only three on the night) and poor base running cost the Americans.

''I felt great tonight," Clemens said in a statement. ''My body responded well. I'm thankful for the opportunity to participate in this event. It made all the work the last six weeks worthwhile. And for me right now, it's goodbye."

Team Mexico snapped a 1-1 tied in the fifth off Clemens, who allowed singles to Mario Valenzuela (who was sacrificed to second) and Alfredo Amezaga. Scot Shields relieved Clemens and faced Jorge Cantu, who delivered Valenzuela with a ground out.

From the fifth inning, Mexico's relievers (Edgar Gonzalez, Ricardo Rincon, Oscar Villarreal, and Jorge De La Rosa) retired 12 straight batters before Chipper Jones walked in the ninth. Alex Rodriguez also drew a walk, but Vernon Wells hit into a double play to end the game.

The US got a gift with its first win in this pool against Japan last Sunday when umpire Bob Davidson ruled Japan's Tsuyoshi Nishioka had left third base too soon on a fly to left field, nullifying the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a game the US won, 4-3, with a run in the ninth.

Last night's umpiring miscue wasn't as egregious. Mexico overcame it to take a 1-0 lead in the third inning against Clemens.

Right fielder Valenzuela hit what appeared to be a home run off the lower portion of the right-field foul pole, but Davidson, umpiring first base, said it hit the wall. Right fielder Wells slammed against the wall and seemed to be shaken up on the play as Valenzuela stopped at second base.

Pleas by the Team Mexico dugout were in vain, even after the four umpires convened for a few minutes to discuss the call.

Did this decision inspire Mexico?

''When the home run happened to a guy like Valenzuela, that was important to him," Mexico manager Paquin Estrada said. ''They had taken that away from him and we were not happy with the situation and that was the sentiment we all shared. For me and for everyone it was a home run. The only ones it was not a home run for was the umpires."

Clemens retired the next two batters and was about to escape the inning without allowing a run, but Cantu stroked a single to center to score Valenzuela.

In the fourth inning, Jones greeted new Mexico pitcher Francisco Campos with a double off the center-field wall. Then A-Rod hit a deep drive to right, but Valenzuela made a nice leaping grab against the wall, and Jones tagged and went to third. Jones came home on Wells's sacrifice fly to right, tying it at 1-1.

Jeff Francoeur made the base-running blunder of the game when he got caught off second base after a pitch to Michael Young. Francoeur, who had doubled to lead off the fifth, was tagged out in a rundown. The Americans had two on and nobody out at the time and didn't score.

''It was just overaggressiveness on the base paths," Martinez said.