NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
After three straight wins to begin the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), Team USA closed in on a spot in the quarterfinal round after defeating Mexico, 5-3, in Houston on Monday night.
Mexico has been victorious in each of the last three games against the United States, including the 2023 game that ended with El Tri beating the Stars and Stripes, 11-5.
But thanks to some bat power from captain Aaron Judge and 21-year-old Boston Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony, Team USA was able to end that streak at Daikin Park.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Aaron Judge of the United States reacts to hitting a home run in the third inning during a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Mexico and the United States at Daikin Park on March 9, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
After USA was unable to cash in with the bases loaded in the first and runners on in the second, Judge wasted no time hitting his second home run of the tournament, singling Jesus Cruz to right field for a 2-0 lead.
Then, after Kyle Schwarber singled to right and Cal Raleigh was hit by a pitch, Anthony didn’t miss a stitch of an inside pitch. The towering moonshot took forever to land, and Anthony, who was gunned down at the plate in the bottom of the second inning, got some redemption by opening the game.
TARIK SKUBAL LEAVES TEAM USA TO RETURN TO TIGERS CAMP DESPITE MIXED EMOTIONS AFTER SUCCESSFUL START
The tone was certainly set by Paul Skenes, who made his first Team USA start in the WBC and was bright. He allowed just one hit and struck out seven batters over four innings (60 pitches).
Skenes’ repertoire was electric as usual, with sharp breaking sinkers and changeups to go along with a high-90 mph fastball. The former Air Force Academy pitcher has been looking forward to this moment for a while, and he didn’t waste the opportunity to help his team.
Paul Skenes of the United States reacts in the first inning during a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Mexico and the United States at Daikin Park on March 9, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
After the five-run inning, the American bats went quiet, giving Mexico a chance to gain momentum.
It was Anthony’s Red Sox teammate, Jarren Duran, who got El Tri on the board with a solo home run off Matthew Boys, the Chicago Cubs’ ace.
And that wouldn’t be Duran’s only big fly, as he clearly saw the ball well in Houston. After Joey Meneses’ infield single later scored Jonathan Aranda in the top of the sixth inning to make it a 5-2 game, Duran led off the top of the eighth inning with a 374-foot shot to right field off Boyd again.
Griffin Jax was called on by manager Mark DeRosa to clean up the frame, and Garrett Whitlock closed the door in the ninth inning to secure the win.
With a 3-0 record, the U.S. does not have a do-or-die situation in its final pool contest against Italy on Tuesday night. Of course, they would love to go undefeated and bring momentum into games that will look like a Game 7 in the postseason every time they go forward.
Aaron Judge of the United States hits a home run in the third inning during a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Mexico and the United States at Daikin Park on March 9, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
Team USA and Italy meet at Daikin Park on Tuesday evening at 8 p.m. ET.
