Mexico, Colombia win their way into the 2017 World Baseball Classic

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Thanks to two separate qualifiers this past weekend, we now know 15 of the 16 teams who will participate in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Mexico, the host of one of the qualifiers, had to earn entry to the WBC the hard way after failing to secure automatic entry thanks to a poor 2013 performance, while Colombia will join them after downing Panama in the Panama City qualifier. Mexico has participated in every World Baseball Classic thus far, but 2017 will represent Colombia’s first-ever entry.

Mexico defeated a depleted Nicaragua in the finals -- Nicaragua had to play four games in four days in order to earn enough wins to make Sunday’s final, and their pitching depth was limited because of that, in addition to the pitch limit rules of the tournament. When their starter Fidencio Flores only lasted for 1 2/3 innings, their run was all but over. Mexico would eventually win by mercy rule (12-1) for the second time in four days against Nicaragua.

Colombia vs. Panama was more of a nail biter, with Colombia getting a go-ahead homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to give them a 2-1 win. Dilson Herrera, the young Mets second baseman, was responsible for the dinger and for Panama losing their second qualifier final in a row. Now, both Mexico and Colombia have to wait until next spring to play another WBC game, but we only have to wait until September for the final qualifier, where one of Great Britain, Brazil, Israel or Pakistan will become the 16th and final team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.