With the stage set on Friday evening at loanDepot park in Miami, it seemed early on that the nearly 36,000 fans would be seeing a rout of Team Mexico. Team Puerto Rico went up, 4–0, in the top of the first inning, but the lead was cut in half, thanks to runs in the second and fifth innings. A three-run seventh inning gave Mexico their first lead of the game, and outstanding defense and effective relief pitching maintained the edge. Team Mexico now moves on to the World Baseball Classic semifinals to take on undefeated Team Japan.