By Angelica Medina and Janina Nuno Rios
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Diablos Rojos de Mexico’s thrilling 4-3 win over the New York Yankees delighted a sellout 20,062 crowd on Sunday in the first of two exhibition games marking the Major League Baseball side’s return to Mexico’s capital after 56 years.
Diablos fans gave the Yankees a warm “Welcome to Hell” at the Alfredo Harp Helu stadium, with some evoking memories of the 1968 exhibition games at the defunct Social Security ballpark when Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle wielded his slugger’s bat to a rapt Mexican crowd.
“I was very young at the time, but I remember that seeing Mickey and the other stars was amazing,” baseball fan Roberto Morin told Reuters, adding that while the experience was good this time there were fewer big names, such as Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge.
Other supporters, such as Viridiana Esqueda, said that even without their starting lineup, the Yankees squad was of a high calibre, which helped the Mexican side. “They are among the best in the MLB and have an important level to raise ours,” she said.
Omar Minaya, an adviser to the Yankees’ operations department, told reporters they would have brought their entire roster to Mexico City but logistically it was impossible.
However, even without knowing the team’s lineup, tickets sold out within an hour of being released a month ago, with resale prices ranging from $130 in the stands to $2,000 behind home plate, according to MLB.
“I came all the way from Laredo, Texas, just for this game. I support the Houston Astros, but we agreed among friends that we had to see the Yankees in Mexico because of the atmosphere,” said Roger Rocha.
Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton found the energy similar to that of a World Baseball Classic, with a festive and enthusiastic crowd singing, clapping and ringing rattles throughout the game.
“The atmosphere during the game was great. I think the fans were very engaged and excited. It was fun,” he said at a press conference.
Former Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer, who pitched for Mexico’s most successful baseball team, also praised the energy of the fans. “It’s like a party. Everybody is having a good time and they love baseball. It’s great to see,” he added.
Monday’s second exhibition match concludes the Yankees’ spring schedule before the first regular season game in Houston against the Astros on Thursday.
The matches mark the return of an MLB team to Mexico City after the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants played a regular season series in April last year.
(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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