Canó, Bauer Lead Diablos Rojos to Victory Over Yankees in Mexico City Exhibition

Former New York Yankees infielder Robinson Canó hit a home run and had two RBIs and former Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer pitched three scoreless innings on Sunday night in Mexico City to lead Diablos Rojos del Mexico in a 4-3 win over the Yankees in the first of two exhibition games.

The Yankees brought Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Volpe, Jose Trevino, and Oswaldo Cabrera to Mexico City and played in front of a sellout crowd of 20,735. It was the club’s first game in Mexico since 1968 when Mickey Mantle suited up in pinstripes.

“It didn’t feel like a spring training game,” Trevino said. “I felt like it was a game-game.”

Canó, who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball, is playing in Mexico for the first time in his career. He went 3-for-4 and his solo homer in the fourth inning showed that the 41-year-old isn’t done playing competitive baseball yet. He was a triple shy of the cycle.

“All I want is to win. I’m not concerned about personal statistics,” Canó said. “It felt good to hit the homer because of the fans, they gave you an extra energy. As a player I like to play in big moments and to play for something.”

Bauer, who signed to pitch in five games for Diablos Rojos, allowed four hits and no run in three scoreless innings. He struck out three and walked two.

“My command was a little bit off. I would have liked not to walk two people,” Bauer said. “It was my first time pitching at this altitude, so the ball is moving a little bit differently. But it was a good day. The fans were incredible.”

Bauer hasn’t pitched in MLB since serving a 194-game suspension for violating the league’s domestic violence policy but the game’s story wasn’t about him. It was about Canó, who spent most of the pregame visiting with personnel from his old team. He even caught the ceremonial first pitch thrown by his former teammate Mariano Rivera.

At 41 without a major league contract, why does Canó still play? He had a simple answer when reporters asked him that question.

“Because I love baseball,” he said. “People don’t understand that sometimes. It’s easy to tell someone, ‘Just go retire.’ But I think as long as I can do it and I can play and I can be on the field, I can do it.”