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After three straight victories to start the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), Team USA secured a spot in the quarterfinals after beating Mexico, 5-3, in Houston on Monday night.
Mexico has been victorious in each of the last three matchups against the United States, including the 2023 matchup that ended with El Tri beating the Stars and Stripes, 11-5.
But thanks to the hitting power of captain Aaron Judge and Boston Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony, 21, the American team was able to end that streak at Daikin Park.
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Aaron Judge of the United States reacts after 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 the United States failed to take advantage of the bases loaded in the first and runners in the second, Judge wasted no time hitting his second home run of the tournament, driving 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 an inside throw. The towering moonshot took forever to land, and Anthony, who was taken down at the plate in the bottom of the second inning, got some redemption by opening the game.
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The tone was certainly set by Paul Skenes, who got his first U.S. start in the WBC and was lights out. He allowed just one hit and struck out seven batters in four innings (60 pitches).
Skenes’ repertoire was electric as usual, with sharp breaking sinkers and changeups to accompany a 90 mph fastball. The former Air Force Academy pitcher had been looking forward to this moment for a while and he didn’t pass up the opportunity to help his team.
Paul Skenes of the United States reacts during 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 remained a bit quiet, allowing Mexico 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 Chicago Cubs ace Matthew Boys.
And that wouldn’t be Duran’s only big problem, as he was clearly seeing the ball well in Houston. After Joey Meneses’ single scored Jonathan Aranda later 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 from Boyd again.
Griffin Jax was called upon by manager Mark DeRosa to clean up the frame, and Garrett Whitlock closed the door in the ninth inning to secure the victory.
With a 3-0 record, the United States isn’t in dire straits heading into its final pool match against Italy on Tuesday night. Of course, they’d like to stay undefeated and continue their momentum into games that feel like a Game 7 in the playoffs every time.
American Aaron Judge 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 will face off at Daikin Park on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET.
