March for Bolivia's ex-President Morales turns violent, as political crisis escalates

CARACOLLO, Bolivia (AP) — Thousands of anti-government demonstrators marching in support of Bolivia’s former President Evo Morales clashed on Tuesday with counterprotesters blocking their way, a stark sign of an escalating power struggle in the volatile Andean nation.

In his most brazen show of force yet against current President Luis Arce, Morales sent word to his followers to mobilize what he called a “March to Save Bolivia,” a 190-kilometer (118 mile)-trek from the small village of Caracollo to the capital, La Paz, denouncing the government of his protege-turned-bitter rival.

Morales, a former coca grower, has retained significant support among poor and Indigenous Bolivians despite his resignation in 2019 amid mass protests over his disrupted re-election.

The march in solidarity with him began peacefully Tuesday morning, but turned violent hours later when hundreds of counterprotesters, armed with tear gas bombs, stones and firecrackers, spread across the highway waiting to confront the nearly 10,000 marchers. Some of them set a giant effigy of Morales on fire.

The Morales supporters, raising multi-colored Indigenous flags and chanting against Bolivia's economic crisis, surged toward them, using slingshots to pelt their adversaries with rocks as police in pickup trucks and on motorbikes looked on. Morales' followers soon forced the counterprotesters to retreat, their shouts — “Evo, Bolivia wants you back!” — drowning out the pro-Arce activists who chanted, “Evo, you traitor, your time has passed.”

A top official in Arce's government, Eduardo Del Castillo, told reporters that 13 people were injured in the scuffles, including three police officers. Associated Press reporters saw some pro-Morales marchers chasing the counterdemonstrators into the rolling Andean highlands on either side of the highway, beating them with sticks, pushing them to the ground and kicking them.

Arce and his ministers accused Morales of trying to orchestrate a coup. Using exaggerated, apocalyptic rhetoric, Del Castillo denounced Morales’ protest as a “death march” and said that the former president seeks “to destroy democracy in Bolivia and end the lives of Bolivians.” He denied that police used force against peaceful protesters, insisting that officers were attacked first.

Morales, for his part, claimed that the government sent plainclothes police officers to stir up trouble and vandalize protesters' vehicles, saying that Arce's government “has lost respect for human rights and laws in the country.”

The mood was largely defiant late Tuesday at a protest encampment in Panduro, in the mining state of Oruro, where the road weary marchers spent the night.

“The government is the one that sent police officers to try to stop us, but we were united and defeated them,” said Yamile Cruz, leader of Frutcas, a group of Indigenous farmers on the edge of the world’s largest salt flat. “This march will not retreat despite the government's intentions.”

Tuesday's mayhem deepened the rift at the top of Bolivia’s governing party, threatening to take the political feud between Morales and Arce into a dramatic new phase. Morales, Bolivia's first Indigenous President who oversaw the country's commodities boom from 2006 to 2019, seeks to run against Arce, his former economy minister, in next year's presidential election.

Protesters at the march Tuesday demanded that Morales be allowed on the 2025 electoral ballot despite a ruling by Bolivia’s constitutional court last year that Arce insists disqualifies him. Morales has dismissed the court resolution as politically motivated.

“They not only want to disqualify me, they want to restrict political rights,” Morales told reporters at the march. “Above all, we want the president and his government to heed our demands.”

Cracks in the governing Movement Toward Socialism, or MAS, first opened in 2019, when Morales ran for an unconstitutional third term. He won a contested vote plagued by allegations of fraud, setting off mass protests that caused 36 deaths and prompted Morales to resign and flee the country. He returned and launched his political comeback after Arce, his choice candidate at the time, won the 2020 election.

The political rivalry has divided Congress and exacerbated an economic crisis stemming from the depletion of Bolivia’s foreign-exchange reserves. Protesters on Tuesday decried Arce's failure to halt the spiral and recalled Morales' tenure as one of economic growth and social uplift.

“We are suffering from hunger," said Felix Torres, a peasant protester from the highlands. “This is not how you govern.”

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report.

Demonstrators carrying wiphala flags march to the capital from Caracollo, Oruro, Bolivia, led by former President Evo Morales as part of a political dispute with current President Luis Arce and to protest his handling of the economy, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Demonstrators give an offering to Mother Earth before marching to the capital, led by former President Evo Morales, as part of a political dispute with current President Luis Arce and to protest his handling of the economy in Caracollo, Oruro, Bolivia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, top, who are marching to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce, are confronted by Arce supporters, below, in Vila Vila, Bolivia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

An effigy of former President Evo Morales starts to burn on a road between Caracollo and La Paz, to block Morales supporters who are marching to the capital against the government of President Luis Arce in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

An effigy of former President Evo Morales is engulfed in flames on the road between Caracollo and La Paz, the route Morales' supporters are using to march to the capital against the government of President Luis Arce, in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, who are marching to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce, walk toward Arce supporters who met them along the route in Vila Vila, Bolivia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales kick a government supporter whose group confronted them in Vila Vila, Bolivia, during their march to the capital, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. Morales and his supporters are marching to the capital to protest the government of President Luis Arce in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, who are marching to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce, advance towards Arce supporters who met them along their route in Vila Vila, Bolivia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, one holding a sling-shot, pursue a government supporter, top right, in Vila Vila, Bolivia, as they march to the capital, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. Morales and his supporters are marching to the capital to protest the government of President Luis Arce in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales march to the capital to protest against the government of current President Luis Arce in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians, in Vila Vila, Bolivia Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Former President Evo Morales, center, and his supporters march to the capital to protest against the government of current President Luis Arce, in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians, in Vila Vila, Bolivia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, who are marching to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce, run towards Arce supporters who met them along the route in Vila Vila, Bolivia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

A government supporter runs through tear gas during clashes with supporters of former President Evo Morales who are marching to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce in Vila Vila, Bolivia, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Supporters of former President Evo Morales, kick a government supporter in Vila Vila, Bolivia, as Morales supporters march to the capital, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. Morales and his supporters are marching to the capital to protest the government of President Luis Arce in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

An effigy of former President Evo Morales burns on a road in Vila Vila, Bolivia, to block Morales supporters who are marching to the capital to protest the government of current President Luis Arce in an escalation of a political dispute between the two politicians, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Verdugo hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and saved at least one run with a sliding catch along the left-field line, boosting the New York Yankees over the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Saturday night in their AL Division Series opener.

New York’s Gleyber Torres and Kansas City’s MJ Melendez hit two-run homers in a back-and-forth game in which the Royals wasted leads of 1-0, 3-2 and 5-4 and the Yankees failed to hold 2-1 and 4-3 margins. It was the first postseason game with five lead changes, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“What a game!” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Kansas City pitchers tied their season high with eight walks, forcing in a pair of runs in the fifth inning. The Yankees were just 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position before Verdugo lined a single off loser Michael Lorenzen.

Verdugo’s hit scored Jazz Chisholm Jr., who singled leading off and stole second on a play allowed to stand following a video review.

“I think we did have a really good argument that that should have been overturned,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.

Boone started a slumping Verdugo in left over rookie Jasson Domínguez in a decision influenced by defense.

“I feel like I’m pretty real with myself,” Verdugo said. “As in fans booing me, fans getting on me. I understand it. I was booing myself, too.”

Verdugo entered in a 2-for-34 skid at the plate.

“I just kind of let it spiral out of control a little bit,” Verdugo said. “For me, it was just really leaning on my guys in the clubhouse. They all got my back. They all know what kind of player I am and how I played throughout my whole career and just kept telling me, `Man, don’t let this season or this little glimpse make your whole year. You can make up for a lot of things in the playoffs.'”

With the Yankees trailing 3-2, Verdugo made a sliding catch on Michael Massey’s fourth-inning fly just inside the line to strand two runners. The ball hit the heel of Verdugo’s glove and bounced off his chest before he grabbed it with his bare hand.

“Thank goodness it popped over to the left hand, so it all worked out,” he said.

Chisholm, playing third base this year for the first time after the Yankees acquired him from Miami at the July trade deadline, made three fine defensive plays, two with the help of first baseman Oswaldo Cabrera, starting because of Anthony Rizzo’s fractured fingers.

Four Yankees relievers combined to allow only an unearned run over four innings after ace Gerrit Cole came out, unhappy with his performance. Clay Holmes, dropped from his closer’s job last month, worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win. Luke Weaver got four straight outs for the save in his postseason debut.

Yankees star Aaron Judge went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, and Royals standout Bobby Witt Jr. was 0 for 5, barking at plate umpire Adam Hamari after a called third strike in the ninth.

Juan Soto went 3 for 5 and threw out Salvador Perez in the second inning trying to score from second on Melendez’s single to right. Kansas City first baseman Yuli Gurriel threw out runners at the plate on grounders in the first and fifth.

After a day off between Games 1 and 2, the series between the AL-best Yankees and wild-card Royals resumes Monday night. These teams met in four playoffs from 1976-80, with the Yankees winning the first three and getting swept in the last.

Cole allowed four runs — three earned — and seven hits in five-plus innings. Royals starter Michael Wacha gave up three runs, four hits and three walks in four-plus innings.

Tommy Pham hit a second-inning sacrifice fly, and Torres put the Yankees ahead 2-1 in the third with a 339-foot home run just over the right-field short porch.

Melendez’s two-run homer in the fourth gave Kansas City a 3-2 lead, but Royals pitchers issued four seven-pitch walks in the fifth, forcing in runs with walks by Angel Zerpa to Austin Wells and by John Schreiber to Anthony Volpe. The Yankees had not gotten a pair of bases-loaded walks in a postseason game since Bullet Joe Bush and Joe Dugan against the New York Giants’ Rosy Ryan in Game 6 of the 1923 World Series.

“They looked at a lot of pitches. We were close, but not good enough pitches to make them count,” Zerpa said through a translator.

Volpe's throwing error at shortstop set up pinch-hitter Garrett Hampson's two-run, sixth-inning single through a drawn-in infield that put the Royals ahead 5-4. Wells, in a 2-for-43 slide, tied the score in the bottom half with a two-out RBI single off Lorenzen.

UP NEXT

New York's Carlos Rodón (16-9, 3.96 ERA) starts Game 2 in the best-of-five series against the Royals' Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14) in a matchup of left-handers.

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

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after striking out against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees third base Jazz Chisholm Jr. reacts after a base hit against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Kansas City Royals third base Maikel Garcia reacts after striking out to end the top of the eighth inning against the New York Yankees during Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Kansas City Royals' MJ Melendez (1) reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Michael Wacha (52) is relieved by Kansas City Royals manager Matt Quatraro (33) during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York.

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole walks off the mound during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Kansas City Royals second base Michael Massey (19) can't make the tag on New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. who stole second base during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. reacts as he scores against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo (24) comes up with the catch on a fly ball hit by Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey to end the fourth inning during Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo (24) comes up with the catch on a fly ball hit by Kansas City Royals' Michael Massey to end the fourth inning during Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees' Alex Verdugo (24) connects for a double to drive in a run against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Alex Verdugo reacts after driving in a run on a double against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning of Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells (28) and outfielder Alex Verdugo celebrate after defeating the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Yankees left fielder Alex Verdugo, left, center fielder Aaron Judge, center, and Juan Soto celebrate after beating the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the American League baseball division series, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)