Final Score — USA 5, Mexico 3
Team USA holds on for the victory over rival Mexico to stay undefeated in WBC pool play. Read below for the live recap of the game in Houston:
Pregame
Team USA's starting lineup features nine All-Stars, with reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes taking the bump for the stars and stripes.
- Bobby Witt Jr. - SS
- Bryce Harper - 1B
- Aaron Judge - RF
- Kyle Schwarber - DH
- Alex Bregman - 3B
- Cal Raleigh - C
- Roman Anthony - LF
- Byron Buxton - CF
- Brice Turang - 2B
- Paul Skenes - SP
Bottom 2nd — USA 0, Mexico 0
After falling behind in the count 0-2, Roman Anthony works a walk to leadoff the inning. Brice Turang ropes a single to right field, and Anthony attempts to score, but Mexico's Jarren Duran catches him at the plate with an incredible throw. Bobby Witt Jr. skies a long fly ball to left centerfield, but it doesn't have the distance. Team USA strands one runner.
Top 3rd — USA 0, Mexico 0
Paul Skenes continues to mow down Team Mexico. He records his fourth and fifth strikeouts of the game to start the inning, before Mexico gets their first baserunner on an error. A sharp single to right field appears to spell trouble, but Aaron Judge fields it cleanly and guns down the runner heading to third base. Team USA remains tied with Mexico.
Bottom 3rd — USA 5, Mexico 0
Bryce Harper singles to start the inning and bring Aaron Judge to the plate. The Team USA captain flashes the lumber this time with an opposite field rocket over the rightfield fence to put the stars and stripes on the board. After Kyle Schwarber singles and Cal Raleigh gets hit by a pitch, Roman Anthony steps to the plate and launches a ball 417 feet for a three-run homer. Team USA has now scored at least five runs in one inning in all three pool play games.
Top 6th — USA 5, Mexico 2
Jarren Duran gets Mexico on the board with a solo home run off Matthew Boyd. Duran's shot is just the second hit of the game for Mexico. Jonathan Aranda and Alejandro Kirk then record back-to-back singles, and Joey Meneses drives in a second run on a single up the middle. With the lead down to three, Boyd escapes the jam with a lineout to second base.
Top 8th — USA 5, Mexico 3
Duran homers off Boyd again to cut Team USA's lead to two. Duran now has three of Mexico's six hits on the night. Boyd hits Randy Arozarena with a pitch to put the tying run at the plate for Mexico, and Team USA manager Mark DeRosa makes the call to the bullpen for Griffin Jax. After falling behind 3-0 to Alejandro Kirk, Jax comes up huge by inducing an inning-ending double play for the U.S.
Top 9th — USA 5, Mexico 3
After surrendering a leadoff single to Joey Meneses, Garrett Whitlock strikes out the next two batters to push Mexico to their final out. With the tying run at the plate, Whitlock gets a groundout from Alek Thomas to secure the save and the U.S. victory.
