World Baseball Classic: Mexico upset by Italy, faces U.S. tonight

Mexico is in a tenuous position after being upset by Italy, 6-5, in its opening game of the World Baseball Classic in Phoenix.

It already can’t afford another loss, and next up is a game Friday night at Chase Field against the United States and National League Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey.

Mexico has another problem, too: Closer Sergio Romo, who got the save in the San Francisco Giants’ World Series clincher last season, was extended in a 26-pitch ninth inning Thursday night.

Romo took the loss, having officially given up two runs on three hits. But two of those hits -- both doubles -- should have been caught in left field.

On both plays, outfielder Edgar Gonzalez got poor jumps, scrambled back awkwardly, and couldn’t make the catches.

Mexico Manager Rick Renteria, the San Diego Padres bench coach, noted afterward that those balls “would have just been typically fly-ball outs.”

Gonzalez is the older brother of Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, Mexico’s team captain.

Yovani Gallardo will start for Mexico against the United States, which will be playing its WBC opener. The Milwaukee Brewers right-hander had a record of 16-9 and 204 strikeouts in as many innings last season. However, this spring, Gallardo has a 10.13 earned run average in 2 2/3 innings.

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