Author: rincon

HOUSTON – It’s not only the ending of the 2023 World Baseball Classic that still lingers with USA manager Mark DeRosa three years later.

In the last tournament, Team USA finished as the runner-up in its pool after getting crushed 11-5 in an upset loss to Mexico, which holds the all-time WBC advantage between the teams. In fact, the United States hasn’t beaten Mexico in the WBC since pool play in 2006. 

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That will be on DeRosa’s mind — and the minds of all the holdovers from the 2023 USA squad — when the two countries meet again Monday night in the game everyone has been waiting for in Pool B.  

“The U.S. has had their hands full with them in this tournament the last couple of installments of it,” DeRosa said. “I certainly haven’t forgotten about it.”

In 2023, Mexico and the U.S. finished as the winner and runner-up, respectively, of Pool C in Phoenix. The teams nearly met again in the final. Mexico held a one-run lead on Team Japan in the ninth inning of their semifinal game, but a walk-off double from Munetaka Murakami allowed Japan to advance to face the U.S., where Japan emerged victorious after Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout in an enthralling finish to the tournament. 

There will be plenty on the line again on Monday night in Houston, not only because the winner of the bout between Team USA and Mexico will be in a strong position to win the pool, but also because the loser will have to beat Italy in its final game to have a chance to advance to the quarterfinals. USA, Mexico and Italy have each started Pool B with two wins, while Great Britain and Brazil have gone winless through three games. 

The U.S. and Mexico are the favorites in the pool. Both teams are oozing with MLB talent.

Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal started USA’s last game against Great Britain. Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes will start this one against Mexico’s Manny Barreda. AL MVP Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber, who led the NL with 56 home runs last season, have already homered in the tournament. For Mexico, Jonathan Aranda, Alejandro Kirk, Jarren Duran, Nacho Alvarez and Alek Thomas have all already gone deep. Mexico has plated 24 runs through its first two games. 

Team Mexico manager Benji Gil described the upcoming matchup as “one of the most anticipated baseball events of the year.” 

“At the end of the day, it’s become a rivalry when maybe it should never have been a rivalry,” said Gil, leaning into Mexico’s underdog status. “Maybe their rival should be Japan, Dominican [Republic], Puerto Rico, but it’s become a rivalry because we’ve had success.”

In Mexico’s onslaught against the U.S. in 2023, Joey Meneses broke the game open with his second of two home runs in front of 47,534 fans at Chase Field. Meneses, who is on Team Mexico again this year but has only logged one at-bat through the first two games, knocked in five runs and had three of Mexico’s 15 hits in that offensive barrage. 

A similarly electric environment awaits the two teams Monday at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros, where the two countries will meet again in a highly-anticipated clash of 2-0 teams.

“It’s going to be lit,” Thomas said. 

Mexico also beat Team USA in the first round in 2013 and eliminated the U.S. in the 2006 tournament. This time, though, the U.S. has sent its most decorated pitching staff and roster ever to the competition. And it will have the reigning N.L. Cy Young Award winner on the mound to try to avenge the 2023 loss. 

If the end result ends up the same again for Mexico, Gil won’t care how decisively his team wins. 

“We know they’re great,” Gil said. “I mean, they’re great. They’re a great team. But we’re just going to try to be just a tiny bit better. Even if we win by half a run, we’ll take it.” 

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The reigning champions held off a potential spoiler, a tournament favorite sent a statement, and an upstart team in Houston continued its strong start.

The World Baseball Classic action started in Tokyo on Sunday morning, when Stuart Fairchild continued making a big name for himself for Chinese Taipei. 

JUMP TO: Chinese Taipei vs. Korea | Australia vs. Japan | Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands | Colombia vs. Cuba | Great Britain vs. Italy

 Stuart Fairchild Becomes a WBC Star

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Fairchild homered again before Chinese Taipei pulled off a win in extra innings against Korea.

Chinese Taipei was down 3-2 entering the eighth, when Fairchild hit a two-run home run to take the lead. Do Yeong Kim answered for the Koreans in the bottom half of the frame with an RBI double, though, and the game went to extras. Kun-Yu Chiang delivered a sacrifice bunt that scored the decisive run.

Fairchild, whose mother is from Taiwan, hit a grand slam in Chinese Taipei’s 14-0 win over Czechia on Saturday morning. Through four games, he’s 5-for-16 with two home runs and six RBIs with a 1.188 OPS.

 Australia Can’t Take Down Japan

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After two wins to start Pool C play, Australia had a real opportunity to shake up the WBC. The Aussies even had a lead after opening the scoring in the sixth inning.

Japan scored twice in the seventh and eighth innings, though, with Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida getting his team on the board with a two-run home run.

The big story was 30-year-old right-hander Connor MacDonald, who threw three scoreless innings with his brother in the crowd. It was an emotional outing on the biggest stage of MacDonald’s career. He has never played professionally outside of Australia.

 Dominicans Dominate Netherlands

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It only took the Dominican Republic seven innings for that squad of stars to beat the Netherlands, and the game ended with a two-run home run by Juan Soto.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Junior Caminero each had three RBIs, while every starting Dominican hitter scored at least one run. Luis Severino did the work on the mound with four innings of one-run ball.

The Dominican Republic improved to 2-0 in pool and will face Israel on Monday and then Venezuela in what will be one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament.

 Cuba Stays Unbeaten

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Colombia’s WBC hopes are over after it dropped to 0-3 after a 7-4 loss to Cuba, which is 2-0.

Right-hander Luis Patiño only lasted one-third of an inning, allowed four runs on two hits, both of which were home runs. Ariel Martinez and Erisbel Arruebarrena hit the long balls for Cuba.

Next up for Cuba is a huge matchup of 2-0 teams against Puerto Rico on Monday night in San Juan.

 Expresso Shots! Italy Improves To 2-0

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Team USA has a huge matchup against Mexico on Monday night, but Italy is not going to go down without a fight. The Italians are 2-0 after a 7-4 win over Great Britain on Sunday afternoon in Houston.

Great Britain opened the scoring with a two-run top of the first inning, but Italy answered with seven runs between the third, fourth and fifth innings. Andrew Fischer, the Brewers’ 2025 first-round pick, and J.J. D’Orazio hit back-to-back jacks in the third to spark the Italian offense – and get its espresso machine going.

Italy is off on Monday before it faces the United States on Tuesday and then Mexico on Wednesday.

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Defending champion Japan became the first nation to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the World Baseball Classic, then rallied on Masataka Yoshida‘s two-run homer in the seventh inning to beat Australia 4-3 on Sunday night and assure first place in its first-round group.

Japan clinched advancement earlier Sunday when South Korea lost to Taiwan 5-4 in 10 innings. Japan’s win clinched first place in Group C for Shohei Ohtani and the Samurai Warriors (3-0).

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After completing the group Tuesday with a game against the Czech Republic (0-3), Japan will travel to Miami for a quarterfinal on March 14. Australia can clinch a quarterfinal spot by beating South Korea (1-2) on Monday.

Japan starter Tomoyuki Sugano pitched four scoreless innings of four-hit ball, and Australia (2-1) went ahead with an unearned run in the sixth against winner Chihiro Sumida. Aaron Whitefield doubled, stole third and came home on catcher Kenya Wakatsuki’s throwing error.

Japan had loaded the bases in the fourth when, with Ohtani at the plate, Shugo Maki was picked off second by catcher Robbie Perkins.

Ohtani walked on four pitches from loser Jon Kennedy leading off the seventh, one of 12 walks by Australia pitchers, and Yoshida pulled a low slider into the right-center field seats for a 2-1 lead. Yoshida has 19 RBIs in WBC play, third behind a pair of Cubans, Frederich Cepeda (23) and Alfredo Despaigne (21).

Teruaki Sato added an RBI in the eighth against Ky Hampton, who forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk to Seiya Suzuki for a 4-1 lead.

Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove hit ninth-inning homers off Taisei Ota, who retired Robbie Perkins on a game-ending groundout for his second save.

Chinese Taipei beats Korea 5-4 in 10 innings

Kun-Yu Chiang bunted home Chieh-Hsien Chen with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th for Chinese Taipei, which completed the group at 2-2.

Korea’s Ju Won Kim was thrown out at the plate in the bottom half on Hyeseong Kim’s grounder, with first baseman Nien-Ting Wu throwing to catcher Shao-Hung Chiang. Jyun-Yue Tseng retired Do Yeong Kim on a flyout for the save.

Yu Chang and Tsung-Che Chen had solo homers for Chinese Taipei and Stuart Fairchild hit a two-run drive for a 4-3 lead in the eighth, his second home run of the tournament after a grand slam against Czechia.

“That was one of the most fun games I’ve ever played in my life,” said Fairchild, an outfielder in the Cleveland organization whose mother is from Taiwan.

Do Yeong Kim hit an RBI double in the bottom half that drove in Hyeseong Kim.

Winner Yi Chang got the final out of the ninth. Woo-Suk-Go took the loss.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Defending champion Japan became the first nation to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the World Baseball Classic, then rallied on Masataka Yoshida‘s two-run homer in the seventh inning to beat Australia 4-3 on Sunday night and assure first place in its first-round group.

Japan clinched advancement earlier Sunday when South Korea lost to Taiwan 5-4 in 10 innings. Japan’s win clinched first place in Group C for Shohei Ohtani and the Samurai Warriors (3-0).

After completing the group Tuesday with a game against the Czech Republic (0-3), Japan will travel to Miami for a quarterfinal on March 14. Australia can clinch a quarterfinal spot by beating South Korea (1-2) on Monday.

Japan starter Tomoyuki Sugano pitched four scoreless innings of four-hit ball, and Australia (2-1) went ahead with an unearned run in the sixth against winner Chihiro Sumida. Aaron Whitefield doubled, stole third and came home on catcher Kenya Wakatsuki’s throwing error.

Japan had loaded the bases in the fourth when, with Ohtani at the plate, Shugo Maki was picked off second by catcher Robbie Perkins.

Ohtani walked on four pitches from loser Jon Kennedy leading off the seventh, one of 12 walks by Australia pitchers, and Yoshida pulled a low slider into the right-center field seats for a 2-1 lead. Yoshida has 19 RBIs in WBC play, third behind a pair of Cubans, Frederich Cepeda (23) and Alfredo Despaigne (21).

Teruaki Sato added an RBI in the eighth against Ky Hampton, who forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk to Seiya Suzuki for a 4-1 lead.

Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove hit ninth-inning homers off Taisei Ota, who retired Robbie Perkins on a game-ending groundout for his second save.

Taiwan beats South Korea 5-4 in 10 innings

Kun-Yu Chiang bunted home Chieh-Hsien Chen with the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th for Taiwan, which completed the group at 2-2.

South Korea’s Ju Won Kim was thrown out at the plate in the bottom half on Hyeseong Kim’s grounder, with first baseman Nien-Ting Wu throwing to catcher Shao-Hung Chiang. Jyun-Yue Tseng retired Do Yeong Kim on a flyout for the save.

Yu Chang and Tsung-Che Chen had solo homers for Taiwan and Stuart Fairchild hit a two-run drive for a 4-3 lead in the eighth, his second home run of the tournament after a grand slam against the Czech Republic.

“That was one of the most fun games I’ve ever played in my life,” said Fairchild, an outfielder in the Cleveland organization whose mother is from Taiwan.

Do Yeong Kim hit an RBI double in the bottom half that drove in Hyeseong Kim.

Winner Yi Chang got the final out of the ninth. Woo-Suk-Go took the loss.

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Can Team USA and its star-studded lineup and rotation win it all at the 2026 World Baseball Classic?  

Two games, two wins so far for the USA after beating Brazil and then dominating Great Britain. It continues with Monday’s Pool B game against Mexico at Daiken Park, home of MLB‘s Houston Astros. 

The game will be Monday, March 9 at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. 

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How to Watch the 2026 World Baseball Classic

FOX is your exclusive home to the WBC with games spread across the FOX family of networks. 

FOX is set to air seven games, including three Pool B games featuring Team USA, two quarterfinals games and the World Baseball Classic Championship Game on Tuesday, March 17 from Miami’s loanDepot Park. The remaining matchups will air across FS1, FS2, the FOX Sports app, FOX One and Tubi. All 47 games will be available for streaming. Catch the action on the following streaming options:

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• FOXSports.com and FOX Sports app
• FOX One
• Tubi

Team USA Starting Pitcher vs. Mexico

National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes versus Mexico on Monday. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace will be making his debut appearance at the WBC and is expected to take the mound twice during the tournament.

New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in the final pool-play game against Italy, even though he’s dealing with an illness.

Team USA Starting Lineup vs. Mexico

Expect a potent lineup for Team USA, one that includes three-time AL MVP and Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge and a pair of Phillies superstars in first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. So far in the tournament, Judge and Schwarber have one homer each. Schwarber and Orioles star second baseman Gunnar Henderson have four hits each to lead Team USA.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

It took a little time for the United States’ lethal offense to wake up, a credit to the weapons on Great Britain’s pitching staff. But once Team USA finally got rolling, the second game of the World Baseball Classic looked a lot like the first.

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After throttling Brazil on Friday, USA again took care of business with ease in Saturday’s 9-1 win. Though the British boasted more MLB talent on the roster than Brazil, USA was unfazed knowing two-time American League Cy Young award winner, their ace Tarik Skubal, was on the hill. 

With an undefeated record, the United States is competing exactly how we expected. The team should be feeling plenty confident heading into the rest of pool play.

Here are my takeaways from Saturday’s WBC win:

1. Big-game Schwarber strikes again

The quickest hands in MLB. That familiar crack of the bat. Who else but Kyle Schwarber was at the plate with the best opportunity yet to give his team the lead? After struggling to get a run on the board through four innings, USA finally created traffic in the fifth on a throwing error from the Brits. Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled, then Ernie Clement scored on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Schwarber to set off the fireworks. Schwarber’s two-run home-run gave USA a 3-1 lead and broke the dam. The rest of the star-studded lineup woke up and put up a five-run rally in the fifth, and added three more runs in the sixth. 

For Schwarber, it was his first home run of the tournament. The Phillies slugger was a key power hitter for Team USA in the 2023 WBC, hitting a home run in the championship game against Japan. Schwarber is renowned for hitting legendary home runs. Whether it’s his four-homer game last season against the Braves, blasting rockets in the All-Star Game swing-off, or his 23 career postseason dingers, it was only a matter of time before an opposing team got Schwarber’ed in the WBC. Great Britain’s hopeful start quickly became a lopsided affair.

2. Eaton bests Skubal

Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton was a man with a plan. Leading off for the British, Eaton’s decision to sell out on USA starter Tarik Skubal’s first pitch was perfectly executed. Eaten got his A swing off and sent a first-pitch home run to left-center field, giving Great Britain an instant 1-0 lead. Skubal, who is scheduled to make just one start in the tournament, Saturday night’s matchup against Great Britain, stared off into the left-field seats in frustration. Skubal pounded the strike zone and delivered three terrific innings, Eaton’s home-run being his only blemish, before USA manager Mark DeRosa, beholden to pre-determined pitch counts, pulled him from the game after 41 pitches. 

Eaton, meanwhile, enjoyed a 3-for-3 day at the plate, collecting another single off Skubal in the third and a base hit to right off Clay Holmes in the sixth. He was the only Great Britain hitter to collect a hit against the USA. The rest of the lineup went 0-for-25 on Saturday in Houston.

3. Brits’ pitching and defense stall USA

Starting pitcher Tyler Viza, a Scottish right-hander playing in the Mexican League after spending nine seasons in the minors, threw three shutout innings against USA. Then Great Britain had another weapon in the bullpen. Who could’ve predicted that a 24-year-old reliever in the Angels’ minor league system would come out firing filthy offspeed pitches to further throw USA off balance? Right-hander Najer Victor, who’s entering his third professional season and has never thrown above High-A, struck out Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Will Smith in the bottom of the fourth inning. Judge, whose timing has been excellent this early into the tournament, whiffed on a nasty slider with a late downward break. Just from that performance alone, the Angels should give Victor the nod on Opening Day. 

The American heavyweight lineup, meanwhile, was hitting the ball hard. But in the early innings, Great Britain’s terrific defense prevented runs. No play shined more than Trace Thompson’s home-run robbery in the second inning. USA catcher Will Smith barreled a Viza fastball to the right-field seats when, out of nowhere, Thompson leaped and caught the ball. Thompson, brother of four-time NBA champion Klay, borrowed some vertical jump and took away what was otherwise a game-tying home run from Smith. 

That’s the thing about this USA dream team, though. Even incredible individual feats were not enough to stop them.

4. Gunnar’s electric WBC debut

USA has the choice to play Bobby Witt Jr., 2024’s American League MVP runner-up, or Gunnar Henderson, the 2023 A.L. Rookie of the Year and another top-10 talent in the sport, at shortstop every game. It’s legitimately impossible to go wrong. And after going with Witt against Brazil in the first game of the tournament on Friday, Henderson made his WBC debut on Saturday — and it was electric. The 24-year-old Baltimore Orioles shortstop went 4-for-5 with two RBI against Great Britain, providing more fuel for fans who were irate that Henderson was left on the bench in USA’s WBC opener. 

Henderson, one of the best all-around players in baseball, is projected to have a major bounce-back season this year. After his All-Star 2024 season, including a fourth-place finish in A.L. MVP voting, Henderson was hindered by a shoulder injury last year, which diminished his power at the plate. Now, FanGraphs is projecting the star shortstop to return to elite production with nearly 30 home runs and a .491 slugging percentage. If his WBC performance is any indication, Henderson is just warming up.

4 ½. What’s next for Team USA?

Following an off day on Sunday, USA will return to action on Monday with reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes on the hill against Mexico. The two baseball heavyweights have built a rivalry in the WBC, with Mexico holding a 3-1 advantage in their four previous clashes. Monday will be the most anticipated matchup of Pool B. 

Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

It took a little time for the United States’ lethal offense to wake up, a credit to the weapons on Great Britain’s pitching staff. But once Team USA finally got rolling, the second game of the World Baseball Classic looked a lot like the first.

After throttling Brazil on Friday, USA again took care of business with ease on Saturday, defeating Great Britain, 9-1. Though the British boasted more MLB talent on the roster than Brazil, USA was unfazed knowing two-time American League Cy Young award winner, their ace Tarik Skubal, was on the hill. With an undefeated record, the United States is competing exactly how we expected. The team should be feeling plenty confident heading into the rest of pool play.

Here are my takeaways from Saturday’s WBC win:

1. Big-game Schwarber strikes again

The quickest hands in MLB. That familiar crack of the bat. Who else but Kyle Schwarber was at the plate with the best opportunity yet to give his team the lead? After struggling to get a run on the board through four innings, USA finally created traffic in the fifth on a throwing error from the Brits. Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled, then Ernie Clement scored on a wild pitch, setting the stage for Schwarber to set off the fireworks. Schwarber’s two-run home-run gave USA a 3-1 lead and broke the dam. The rest of the star-studded lineup woke up and put up a five-run rally in the fifth, and added three more runs in the sixth. 

For Schwarber, it was his first home run of the tournament. The Phillies slugger was a key power hitter for Team USA in the 2023 WBC, hitting a home run in the championship game against Japan. Schwarber is renowned for hitting legendary home runs. Whether it’s his four-homer game last season against the Braves, blasting rockets in the All-Star Game swing-off, or his 23 career postseason dingers, it was only a matter of time before an opposing team got Schwarber’ed in the WBC. Great Britain’s hopeful start quickly became a lopsided affair.

2. Eaton bests Skubal

Red Sox outfielder Nate Eaton was a man with a plan. Leading off for the British, Eaton’s decision to sell out on USA starter Tarik Skubal’s first pitch was perfectly executed. Eaten got his A swing off and sent a first-pitch home run to left-center field, giving Great Britain an instant 1-0 lead. Skubal, who is scheduled to make just one start in the tournament, Saturday night’s matchup against Great Britain, stared off into the left-field seats in frustration. Skubal pounded the strike zone and delivered three terrific innings, Eaton’s home-run being his only blemish, before USA manager Mark DeRosa, beholden to pre-determined pitch counts, pulled him from the game after 41 pitches. 

Eaton, meanwhile, enjoyed a 3-for-3 day at the plate, collecting another single off Skubal in the third and a base hit to right off Clay Holmes in the sixth. He was the only Great Britain hitter to collect a hit against the USA. The rest of the lineup went 0-for-25 on Saturday in Houston.

3. Brits’ pitching and defense stall USA

Starting pitcher Tyler Viza, a Scottish right-hander playing in the Mexican League after spending nine seasons in the minors, threw three shutout innings against USA. Then Great Britain had another weapon in the bullpen. Who could’ve predicted that a 24-year-old reliever in the Angels’ minor league system would come out firing filthy offspeed pitches to further throw USA off balance? Right-hander Najer Victor, who’s entering his third professional season and has never thrown above High-A, struck out Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper and Will Smith in the bottom of the fourth inning. Judge, whose timing has been excellent this early into the tournament, whiffed on a nasty slider with a late downward break. Just from that performance alone, the Angels should give Victor the nod on Opening Day. 

The American heavyweight lineup, meanwhile, was hitting the ball hard. But in the early innings, Great Britain’s terrific defense prevented runs. No play shined more than Trace Thompson’s home-run robbery in the second inning. USA catcher Will Smith barreled a Viza fastball to the right-field seats when, out of nowhere, Thompson leaped and caught the ball. Thompson, brother of four-time NBA champion Klay, borrowed some vertical jump and took away what was otherwise a game-tying home run from Smith. 

That’s the thing about this USA dream team, though. Even incredible individual feats were not enough to stop them.

4. Gunnar’s electric WBC debut

USA has the choice to play Bobby Witt Jr., 2024’s American League MVP runner-up, or Gunnar Henderson, the 2023 A.L. Rookie of the Year and another top-10 talent in the sport, at shortstop every game. It’s legitimately impossible to go wrong. And after going with Witt against Brazil in the first game of the tournament on Friday, Henderson made his WBC debut on Saturday — and it was electric. The 24-year-old Baltimore Orioles shortstop went 4-for-5 with two RBI against Great Britain, providing more fuel for fans who were irate that Henderson was left on the bench in USA’s WBC opener. 

Henderson, one of the best all-around players in baseball, is projected to have a major bounce-back season this year. After his All-Star 2024 season, including a fourth-place finish in A.L. MVP voting, Henderson was hindered by a shoulder injury last year, which diminished his power at the plate. Now, FanGraphs is projecting the star shortstop to return to elite production with nearly 30 home runs and a .491 slugging percentage. If his WBC performance is any indication, Henderson is just warming up.

4 ½. What’s next for Team USA?

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Following an off day on Sunday, USA will return to action on Monday with reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes on the hill against Mexico. The two baseball heavyweights have built a rivalry in the WBC, with Mexico holding a 3-1 advantage in their four previous clashes. Monday will be the most anticipated matchup of Pool B. 

Deesha Thosar covers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

The Netherlands left it late against Nicaragua, but when Ozzie Albies stepped up in the bottom of the ninth, it more than made up for it.

The Atlanta Braves second baseman hit a game-winning three-run homer to lead the Netherlands over Nicaragua on Saturday in Miami.

It was the first walk-off home run ever in a World Baseball Classic game and the tenth walk-off win in the tournament’s history. The Dutch have a record four of those.

“Time to celebrate,” Albies said afterward. “The moment I hit it … I felt just like that. It hit the perfect spot on the bat, so I was really happy it happened at the right time.”

“I won’t ever forget that,” he added.

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The Netherlands began its two-out rally on Ceddanne Rafaela‘s single against reliever Angel Obando. Xander Bogaerts doubled, advancing Rafaela to third before Albies hit Obando’s first pitch over the wall in right.

It was a heartbreaker for Nicaragua and the squad’s manager, Dusty Baker, who has plenty of big-game experience as a longtime MLB manager and a 2022 World Series champion with the Houston Astros. Baker could have intentionally walked Albies but instead allowed Angel Obando to pitch to him. 

“That was bad luck for us,” Baker said about the ninth-inning rally. “They say it’s a game of inches; that ball just hit the third base bag and bounced over.”

The Netherlands stranded 14 baserunners and was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position before Albies’ homer.

The win evens the Netherlands’ record in Pool D at 1-1, with games remaining against the Dominican Republic on Sunday and Israel on Tuesday. Nicaragua falls to 0-2, leaving them in a precarious position with only two games left in pool play.

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Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports

Has Tarik Skubal thrown his last pitch for Team USA at the 2026 World Baseball Classic?

The Detroit Tigers ace went three full innings in the United States’ rout of Great Britain in pool play on Saturday at Daikin Park in Houston. He was retired after 41 pitches, five strikeouts, two hits allowed and one run earned.

Skubal’s start vs. Great Britain was supposed to be his lone appearance for Team USA at the World Baseball Classic, but he has left the door open on returning for a shift if the U.S. makes a deep run.

“That’s a tough question right now,” Skubal told FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. “I probably won’t answer that one right now.”

Skubal gave a more definitive answer about his World Baseball Classic status when asked about it in February.

“The reason I didn’t announce it (sooner) was I wanted to keep the momentum on the WBC, but I’m just making one start and then I’ll stick around for a few games,” Skubal told reporters. “I haven’t determined what games I’m going to watch.

“If they go to the finals, I think I’m going to try and lobby to just go watch and be with the guys. But yeah, I’m just making one start and getting back on track and getting back to here.”

Team USA will wrap up pool play on Tuesday, March 10 against Italy.

Link to Original Article - on Fox Sports