Monterrey beats Messi and Inter Miami to advance to the CONCACAF semifinals

MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Lionel Messi’s first trip to Mexico for an official match did not end well.

Brandon Vazquez, Germán Berterame and Jesus Gallardo scored goals and Monterrey beat Inter Miami 3-1 on Wednesday night in the second leg of the two-game, total-goals series to secure a spot in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.

Vazquez opened the scoring in the 31st minute, Berterame added a goal in 58th and Gallardo sealed the win in the 64th as Monterrey advanced to the next round with a 5-2 aggregate score.

Diego Gómez scored Miami’s goal in the 85th minute. Messi started the match, but he had just one scoring chance in the first half.

“As a coach, I’m happy to eliminate a great team. Gerardo (Martino) and Leo are a great coach and player who are recognized worldwide,” Rayados coach Fernando Ortiz said. “We have the satisfaction to win the series, but we are thinking of Tigres,” Monterrey’s next opponent in the Mexican Clausura.

Before the series, Ortiz said that he was confident of his team’s talents, but was afraid that the referees could be influenced by Messi’s presence.

“I said that we were going to beat them, not for a lack of respect for Miami, just because I thought that my players would understand what needed to be done,” Ortiz said. “To me, Leo is the greatest player of all time, I did not mean to offend anyone, I just gave an honest opinion.”

Messi, who played two exhibition matches in Mexico in 2011 and one in 2006, missed the chance to lead Miami to its first semifinals in this tournament.

“Today’s defeat takes away the illusion that we have to keep moving forward in this competition,” said Miami coach Gerardo Martino.

Messi, the 36-year-old Argentinian, won the Leagues Cup last summer and was trying to win his second tournament since he signed with Miami a year ago.

“We’ve competed well in the first game against Monterrey and in this one we did until Berterame’s goal, that’s when the series ended,” Martino said.

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, returned from a hamstring injury that had sidelined him since a March 13 Champions Cup match against Nashville to play the second half of last Saturday’s Major League Soccer game at Colorado, scoring once in a 2-2 draw.

Monterrey, the team with the highest payroll in the Mexican league, will take on the Columbus Crew in one of the semifinals. America, the reigning champion in Mexico, will play against Pachuca in the other. Pachuca beat Costa Rican club Herediano 2-1 on Wednesday to advance.

Monterrey is trying to advance to its first final since in 2021, when it won its fifth CONCACAF title.

Inter Miami finished the match with 10 men because Jordi Alba received a red card in the 78th minute.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi is fouled by Monterrey Sergio Canales during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter final second leg soccer match at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, right, attempts a shot on goal challenged by Monterrey's Gerardo Arteaga during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter final second leg soccer match at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi reacts after Monterrey's German Berterame scoring his side's second goal during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter final second leg soccer match at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Inter Miami's Julian Gressel reacts after missing a chance to score against Monterrey during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter final second leg soccer match at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Inter Miami's Luis Suarez, left, dribbles the ball in front of Monterrey's Stefan Medina during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter final second leg soccer match at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Monterrey's German Berterame is congratulated after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Inter Miami during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter final second leg soccer match at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, right, tries control the ball past Monterrey's Luis Romo during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter final second leg soccer match at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, Wednesday, April 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Simeon Woods Richardson pitched six shutout innings of one-hit ball and the Minnesota Twins scored twice in the seventh to beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 on Monday night in the opener of their four-game series.

Minnesota rebounded quickly after its 12-game winning streak was snapped Sunday with a 9-2 loss to Boston.

Woods Richardson struck out a career-high eight and walked just one in his fifth major league start. He whiffed five of his first six batters and had seven strikeouts through three innings, outpitching Mariners All-Star Luis Castillo. The only hit Woods Richardson permitted was a leadoff single by Mitch Garver in the third.

“He’s been pitching really well. Today, he was phenomenal,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “It’s just a pretty incredible start, and he’s matching up against one of the best pitchers in the game. That can affect people sometimes, when you’re watching the other guy on the other side of the field who does it all a lot and is putting up zeros, too. It didn’t put him off one bit.”

Seattle loaded the bases with nobody out in the seventh but pushed across only one run against reliever Griffin Jax (3-2). Garver’s sacrifice fly plated Jorge Polanco to tie it 1-all before Luke Raley struck out to end the inning.

Castillo (3-5) allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven. The right-hander, who won his previous three starts, didn't give up a hit until the fifth.

“He has a great name in this league. He’s a competitor, throws strikes, gives his team the best chance to win,” Woods Richardson said. "So, it’s always fun to go toe-to-toe with somebody like that.”

Minnesota's offense put together two runs in the seventh to reclaim the lead for good. Carlos Correa's second double of the game helped set up the go-ahead run, as he eventually came around to score on Christian Vázquez's sacrifice fly off Castillo for a 2-1 lead. Manuel Margot added an RBI single to make it 3-1.

“He’s a top-of-the-rotation starter and he had all his pitches working today,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Castillo. “They were just able to put a rally together against him late in the ballgame and it was one of those games where it was going to come down to that, who gets a big hit, who can put it together, and Correa had two big hits tonight, no question about that.”

Twins closer Jhoan Duran pitched the eighth, striking out Julio Rodríguez on three pitches to end the inning. Caleb Thielbar tossed a scoreless ninth for his third save.

POLANCO RETURNS

After spending 10 years with the Twins, Polanco made his first trip to Target Field as a visitor.

Polanco debuted with the Twins in 2014 and was traded to Seattle after the 2024 season. He was an All-Star in 2019 and helped Minnesota end its playoff drought last season.

“A lot of emotions,” Polanco said pregame. “I spent a lot of time here. It’s definitely great coming back here, so I feel pretty good.”

The Twins played Polanco's old walk-up music as he received a standing ovation before his first at-bat.

UP NEXT

RHP Emerson Hancock (3-3, 4.75 ERA) takes the mound for Seattle in the second game of the series Tuesday. He gave up five runs in a loss to Atlanta last time out. Minnesota counters with RHP Bailey Ober (3-1, 4.55), who has won his last three starts for the Twins.

This story has been corrected to indicate that all three runs Castillo allowed were earned.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo, center, leaves the mound during a pitching change in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo delivers during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Seattle Mariners starter Luis Castillo walks back to the dugout after a pitching change during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Seattle Mariners' Josh Rojas looks toward the home plate umpire after being called out on strikes to end the top of the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins' Carlos Correa hits an RBI-double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)