World Baseball Classic: USA beats Mexico, Dominican Republic advances to quarterfinals
United States' Aaron Judge watches his two-run home run during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico, Monday, March 9, 2026, in Houston. Credit: AP/Ashley Landis
Aaron Judge hit a two-run home run, his second blast of this World Baseball Classic, and Roman Anthony followed with a three-run homer during a five-run third inning as Team USA held off Mexico, 5-3, on Monday night in Houston.
Team USA (3-0 in Pool B) did all of its damage against Jesus Cruz but had only four hits against seven other pitchers. USA starter Paul Skenes gave up only one hit in four innings.
Mexico (2-1) scored three runs off Matthew Boyd, including a home run by Jarren Duran, who had three of Mexico’s seven hits.
Tarik Skubal will not pitch again in the WBC and will return to Tigers camp in Lakeland, Florida.
Dominican Republic 10, Israel 1: Fernando Tatis hit a grand slam and drove in six runs in Miami as the Dominican Republic (3-0 in Pool D) clinched a spot in the quarterfinals. Tatis had a two-run single in the seventh.
Tatis’ six RBIs tied Adrian Gonzalez in 2009 for second most in a WBC game, one behind Ken Griffey Jr.’s record in 2006.
Oneil Cruz added a solo homer in the fourth off Zack Weiss, a 115.9-mph drive.
Spencer Horwitz drove in the only run for Israel (1-2) with a fourth-inning homer off Brayan Bello. That was the only hit allowed in five innings by Bello, who struck out seven and walked none.
Venezuela 4, Nicaragua 0: Ronald Acuna Jr. homered and drove in two runs in Miami. Venezuela (3-0) and the Dominican Republic (3-0) will play to determine the Pool D winner Wednesday night, but both have advanced to the quarterfinals.
Puerto Rico 4, Cuba 1: Martin Maldonado hit a three-run double in the second as Puerto Rico (3-0 in Pool A) beat Cuba (2-1) in San Juan and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Colombia 4, Panama 3: Reynaldo Rodriguez hit a two-run single in a four-run sixth as already eliminated Colombia (1-3 in Pool A) eliminated Panama (1-3) in San Juan.
Panama’s Jonathan Arauz exchanged shouts and pushes with manager Jose Mayorga when the pinch hitter returned to the dugout after grounding out leading off the ninth. Arauz did not run hard out of the batter’s box.
South Korea 7, Australia 2: At the Tokyo Dome, South Korea (2-2 in Pool C) advanced to the quarterfinals behind four RBIs from Bo Gyeong Moon, who leads the tournament with 11.
Moon had three hits, including a second-inning homer, and is batting .538 (7-for-13).
Britain 8, Brazil 1: Ian Lewis Jr. homered and Jazz Chisholm Jr. had three RBIs to lead Britain (1-3 in Pool B) in a one-hitter in Houston. Brazil (0-4) was outscored 47-6 and outhit 46-14.
— AP
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