Category: Baseball

It came down to the wire, but Team USA is moving on.

With Italy‘s 9-1 win over Mexico in the final game of Pool B play, the United States has advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2026 World Baseball Classic as the group’s runner-up. Italy will take on Puerto Rico, runners-up of Pool A, on Friday in Houston (8 p.m. on FOX).

Team USA will now play Pool A winners Canada on Saturday in the quarterfinals in Houston (3 p.m. on FS1). 

The United States went 3-1 in pool play, defeating Brazil (15-5), Great Britain (9-1) and Mexico (5-3) but losing to Italy (8-6).

Mexico finishes in third place in Pool B at 2-2, followed by Great Britain (1-3) and Brazil (0-4).

As for individual USA pool play standouts, Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony drove in six runs, while posting a .333/.474/.533 slash line; Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs against Italy on Tuesday night; Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber had a USA-high six hits, one of them being a home run, while posting a .375/.500/.563 slash line; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson hit .500.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes pitched four scoreless innings, while striking out seven batters and surrendering just two baserunners against Mexico; San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb surrendered just one run and one baserunner across four innings against Brazil, while striking out six batters.

Team USA lost to Japan in the 2023 WBC Championship and last won the World Baseball Classic in 2017.

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Team USA can only wait to see whether its campaign continues, or whether its MLB superstars are going back to their respective spring trainings. 

[WBC Bracket: Standings, Who Is Advancing?]

It’s the final day of World Baseball Classic pool play, and we’re set for some drama. Recapping Wednesday’s action.

JUMP TO:  Canada In, Cuba Out | USA Awaits Italy-Mexico Winner | D.R., Venezuela Set For Heavyweight Fight

Canada Wins Pool A; Cuba’s First-Round Exit Ever

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Canada advanced past the first round of the World Baseball Classic for the first time, beating Cuba 7-2 Wednesday in a winner-take-all game at San Juan, Puerto Rico, behind Abraham Toro’s homer and Otto Lopez’s two-run single.

Cuba was knocked out in the first round for the first time in the tournament’s history.

Brothers Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor drove in runs, Owen Caissie had two RBIs and reliever James Paxton struck out six over 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Canada (3-1), which eliminated the Cubans (2-2) and won Group A over Puerto Rico (3-1). 

Canada and Puerto Rico will play quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.

Mexico Takes On Italy; USA Awaits Fate

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Team USA’s dream team faces the possibility of getting knocked out in the first round. They await the winner of Wednesday’s Pool B finale between Italy and Mexico.

After Italy pulled off the upset against the USA in Tuesday’s game, the Azzurri will look to beat Mexico to clinch Pool B. Meanwhile, Mexico (who lost to the USA on Monday) will try to keep its hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals alive. 

If the Italy-Mexico game goes nine innings and Mexico wins and scores five or more runs, the USA is out and Mexico advances. Mexico winning while scoring four or fewer also keeps the USA out. 

Dominican Republic, Venezuela To Settle Pool D

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It’s a match between two WBC heavyweights with plenty at stake. And the atmosphere in Miami should be electric. 

Both teams are undefeated entering their final game at loanDepot Park having already clinched quarterfinal spots. But just listing the players who’ll be on the field for these times. 

Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Julio Rodríguez, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. for the Dominican Republic. Ronald Acuña Jr., Salvador Perez, Jackson Chourio, Luis Arraez and more on Venezuela.

Potential rematch in the WBC Championship Game next Tuesday, anyone?

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A showdown between two neighboring counties brought a boatload of baseball fans alike together.

Tuesday night’s matchup between Team USA and Mexico was the most watched World Baseball Classic game of all time. With a figure of 5.018 million viewers, it was the most-watched WBC telecast ever on any network. 

Other figures include:

• Peak Viewership: 5,649,000 from 9:00-9:15 PM ET
• Up +215% vs. 2023’s lone USA WBC pool play game on FOX & FOX Deportes (5,018,000 vs. 1,592,000)

The United States won 5-3 behind four scoreless innings and seven strikeouts from Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes. Meanwhile, Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony hit a three-run home run, while New York Yankees superstar and Team USA captain Aaron Judge hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, with that five-run inning accounting for all the country’s runs. Judge and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. each had two-hit performances for the United States.

Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran had a three-hit performance for Mexico, highlighted by a pair of solo home runs in the sixth and eighth innings, with Joey Meneses also driving in a run in the top of the sixth.

Team USA went 3-1 in pool play, with Mexico currently 2-1 in pool play. Mexico plays Italy on Wednesday night in a matchup that will decide which two countries will advance to the quarterfinal round of the tournament (two of Mexico, Italy and the United States will advance past Pool B).

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HOUSTON – Team USA’s buses were scheduled to leave Daikin Park at 11:30 p.m. on Monday night, but their players weren’t ready to leave. Two hours after avenging their 2023 loss to Mexico, they remained in the clubhouse, chairs turned toward the middle of the room, talking ball, sharing stories and enjoying some extra time to soak in the experience before departing for the team hotel. To the coaches who grew up in a different age, it felt like the old days. 

Had the following night gone differently, everyone would still be looking back at that evening more fondly, another example of how much this World Baseball Classic means to a roster filled with the best players from the best league that the sport has to offer. 

Instead, after Team USA’s All-Stars, MVPs and Cy Young Award winners were stunned in their final pool-play game by a youthful, undaunted opponent, the context of the events leading into one of the most shocking WBC upsets in the tournament’s history has shifted. 

“We played in a different time, where we were staying in the clubhouses till the wee hours in the morning, just having a few beers and talking the game,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said before the Italy game, reminiscing on the previous night’s events. “That has been the most enjoyable part of this for us, just kind of bringing the entire group together. I mean, that not only ended up on the bus, that ended up back at the hotel. There’s some guys dragging today.”

Hours later, it looked that way as Italy pulled off the biggest win in its country’s history against the best U.S. team ever assembled, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and holding on for an 8-6 victory that left Team USA no longer in control of its pool-play fate. 

Now, the attention is on the buses that pushed back an hour later than anticipated as Monday evening bled into Tuesday morning, an offense that was shut out for 4.2 innings by Michael Lorenzen, the tiebreaker formulas that could determine which teams advance from Pool B and the U.S. manager who claimed he misspoke earlier in the day on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove” when he mistakenly said he wanted to beat Italy “even though our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals.” 

As it turned out, USA’s ticket was not punched — and still isn’t entering the final game of Pool B between Mexico and Italy on Wednesday. The U.S. dream team, against all odds, faces the possibility of getting knocked out in the first round, even after going 3-1. 

After the loss, DeRosa said he “totally misspoke” on the TV show with his buddies, “100%” recognized that his game against Italy mattered beforehand and was informed of his mistake when he got to the park. Nonetheless, it wasn’t a great look considering the events that followed. The comment made the rounds on social media in the midst of USA’s slow start Tuesday night, during which Bryce Harper, Alex Bregman, Byron Buxton and Brice Turang were on the bench and late roster addition Ryan Yarbrough was allowing USA’s third home run of the game to balloon Italy’s lead to 5-0 after four. Some of the decisions ultimately panned out. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two late home runs sparked a rally that could still matter even in defeat, given the tiebreaker rules that might come into play. 

But in the aftermath, it was hard not to think of the 24 hours that preceded the astonishing result, the seeming lack of urgency and the errors both on and off the field. USA captain Aaron Judge did not believe the letdown was a result of breathing a sigh of relief after the Mexico win, the late night that followed or any reason beyond Italy’s glowing performance. 

“Oh, not at all,” said Judge, who struck out on a changeup from Greg Weissert to end the game while representing the tying run. “It’s just, everybody on this team has been enjoying this experience, getting a chance to have these guys in this clubhouse all in one clubhouse share stories, share at-bats, share just any information to make each other better. That’s kind of what we were doing last night. We had a win and guys were just hanging out a little bit, but we were focused on what we had to do today. Italy is a great team, and they definitely showed it today, but whatever happened yesterday has nothing to do with what happened today.”

Added DeRosa: “I’ll credit Italy more than say we were flat.” 

Whatever the reason for the letdown, USA is no longer in control of what happens next. To move on to the quarterfinals, it needs Mexico to either lose or score at least five runs against Italy on Wednesday.

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These are the potential scenarios: If Italy beats Mexico, Italy and USA advance. If Mexico beats Italy while scoring five runs or more, USA and Mexico move on. If Mexico beats Italy while scoring four runs or fewer, Team USA is eliminated and Mexico and Italy advance. 

“You always like having your destiny in your own hands,” Judge said. “We had it right in front of us, and Italy came out swinging.”

To avoid a complete calamity, the U.S. needs Italy to come out swinging again.

Team USA’s coaches and players plan to watch the deciding game from their hotel, where they’ll be rooting for the team that just delayed — and possibly derailed — their hopes of punching a ticket through. 

“It’s tough,” DeRosa said. “It’s super tough. Guys in there are frustrated. It is what it is, though. I mean, we’ve got to own it, right?”

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In the fourth inning of Italy’s 8-6 stunner over Team USA, Jac Caglianone hit the Azzurri’s third home run of the game. Returning to the dugout, he put on the Armani jacket waiting for him, downed a shot of espresso and received the due baci greeting from Vinnie Pasquantino, who placed a kiss on each of his Kansas City Royals teammate’s cheeks. 

Italy poured it on early and held on late for the biggest baseball win in its country’s history, putting the best USA roster ever assembled in danger of possibly not advancing out of its World Baseball Classic pool. 

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Here are my takeaways:

1. Behind Lorenzen’s Gem, Italy Gets Biggest Baseball Win Ever

He mixed speeds and quadrants. He threw at least seven different kinds of pitches and got swings and misses on six of them. And for 4.2 innings, departing only after his pitch count ran above the allotted 65-pitch limit, Italy starter Michael Lorenzen blanked a lineup teeming with All-Stars and left them — and the 38,653 fans in attendance at Daikin Park — stunned and stupefied. 

Dating back to USA’s five-run outburst in the third inning Monday night against Mexico, the USA offense went scoreless for its next 10 innings until Gunnar Henderson’s solo home run in the sixth inning against Italy ended the drought. Despite a late-inning rally, it wasn’t enough to erase Italy’s early barrage.  

Team Italy has made it to the quarterfinals twice in the WBC, including in the last tournament, but this victory against the USA is unlike anything before in the country’s baseball history and one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. 

2. Long Ball Bites USA’s McLean

USA’s first three starting pitchers of the tournament — Logan Webb, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes — have combined for six All-Star appearances and three Cy Young Awards over the last two years alone. The fourth member of the stacked rotation had only eight MLB starts to his name, but it was a testament to the preternatural skills of Mets top pitching prospect Nolan McLean that he was included on the roster.

In the first inning Tuesday night, he demonstrated why, striking out the side with a fastball that sat in the high-90s, a masterful sweeper and a devastating curveball. 

But the bottom of Italy’s lineup, and its Southsider contingency, did not relent. 

After McLean got the first two outs of the second inning, White Sox catcher Kyle Teel recorded the first hit of the day for either team by taking a first-pitch fastball out for a solo shot. (Worth noting: He later left the game after getting injured legging out a double). Two batters after Teel started the scoring, White Sox prospect Sam Antonacci also jumped on McLean’s heater, sending a fastball up in the zone 403-feet out to right field. 

The home runs set the tone for an Italy team that continued pouring it on. 

3. Prospects, MLB Novices Carrying Italy’s Electric Offense

  

Vinnie Pasquantino is the most recognizable name in Italy’s lineup, but it’s a group of less experienced MLB players and prospects who are shining for the Azzurri lineup in the WBC. Dante Nori, a 2024 first-round pick of the Phillies, began the tournament 5-for-7 with two homers and a double. Andrew Fischer, a 2025 first-round pick of the Brewers, went 2-for-4 with a homer in the lone game he played. 

On Tuesday, it was Antonacci, Teel and Caglianone, another recent top prospect and 2025 rookie, delivering the decisive blows. The top five hitters in Italy’s lineup went hitless, but the Nos. 6-8 batters went 6-for-8 with three home runs and five RBI.

Even before Italy’s youthful standouts continued to shine Tuesday night, Pasquantino talked glowingly about the team’s young hitters. 

“For the most part, that’s who’s done most of the damage on offense, is the prospects,” Pasquantino told me ahead of Tuesday’s game. “It’s been great to see the confidence that they have. Fischer is a treat, the way he carries himself. He’s awesome. Dante Nori is awesome. Sam Antonacci is awesome.

“I can’t say enough good things about these guys. It makes me feel old saying this, the game’s in good hands, like with some of the guys coming up that I’ve been able to have the pleasure to get to know the past few days, past week.”

4. PCA’s Two Late Homers Not Enough — But Could Still Matter

Losing at all is a dreadful result for the U.S. and its star-studded roster, but given the runs-allowed tiebreaker that could determine the winner and runner-up of Pool B, USA’s sixth-inning calamity was especially unsightly and potentially costly. 

Already trailing 5-0, Brad Keller relieved Ryan Yarbrough with one on and one out in the sixth when he walked the first batter he faced. Keller then got the double-play ball he needed to escape the threat, but he bounced the throw into center field. One run scored on the error, then two more came across on a sacrifice fly and a wild pitch, ballooning Italy’s lead to 8-0. 

USA’s ability to battle back with six unanswered runs — including two home runs from Pete Crow-Armstrong — didn’t change the outcome, but every run could be the difference given the potential tiebreakers in play. 

4 ½. What’s Next? 

Chaos, potentially. 

The U.S. (3-1) has played its last pool-play game, so Pool B will all come down to Wednesday’s matchup between Italy (3-0) and Mexico (3-1). 

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If Italy beats Mexico on Wednesday, the U.S. will advance. If Mexico wins, however, get ready to do some math. The first tiebreaker is head-to-head record, but if Mexico beats Italy, then all three teams at the top of the pool will have beaten one another. 

– WBC Tiebreakers: How Can USA Advance?

The next tiebreaker is the lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the game between the tied teams — hence, why every run on Monday mattered. 

 

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Two quarterfinal spots, three contenders. Pool B of the World Baseball Classic will go down to the wire with the USA, Mexico and Italy looking to advance to the next round. 

The USA beat Mexico, 5-3, in Monday’s game but trails Italy in Tuesday’s matchup.  Italy and Mexico play each other on Wednesday. The other two teams in the pool (Brazil and Great Britain) are eliminated. 

That could lead to tiebreakers to see who’ll advance.

According to the World Baseball Classic rules, these are the tiebreakers: 

The two teams with the highest such percentages in each pool shall advance to the Quarterfinal Round. If, at the end of pool play in Round One of the Tournament, teams within a pool are tied with an identical winning percentage, the tie shall be broken in the following order of priority:

• The team that won the games between the teams tied shall be given the higher position. If three or more teams are tied and one of those teams won its games against all other teams it is tied with, then it will be placed in the higher spot. Similarly, if one of those tied teams lost its games against all other teams it is tied with, then it will be placed in the lowest spot.
• The tied teams shall be ranked in the standings according to the lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.
• The tied teams shall be ranked in the standings according to the lowest quotient of fewest earned runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.
• The tied teams shall be ranked in the standings according to the highest batting average in games in that round between the teams tied.
• Standings shall be determined by the drawing of lots, conducted by WBCI.

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In a game that featured some top talent, it was the full-time electrician on the mound who shined brightest in Tuesday’s World Baseball Classic game between Japan and Czechia. 

Catching up on Tuesday’s action from around the WBC:

JUMP TO: Japan Rests Ohtani In Win | Israel Wins Over Netherlands | 

No Ohtani? No Problem For Japan

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Japan gave Shohei Ohtani the day off as the defending champions completed an unbeaten group stage at the World Baseball Classic, beating the Czechia  9-0 on Tuesday night behind a nine-run eighth inning capped by Munetaka Murakami’s grand slam.

After outscoring opponents 39-9 in going 4-0, Japan advanced to a quarterfinal on Saturday in Miami against Venezuela or the Dominican Republic. Ohtani is hitting .556 with two homers, six RBIs and four walks.

Czech starter Ondrej Satoria, who famously struck out Ohtani at the 2023 tournament, allowed six hits over 4 2/3 innings. The full-time electrician received a standing ovation from the Tokyo Dome crowd as he left the game. 

“I’m sad,” Satoria said before the game, knowing Ohtani was out of the lineup. “I think a lot of fans are sad, too. Maybe he’s resting for the long trip to Miami.”

Israel Defeats Netherlands

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Jake Gelof had three RBIs as Israel defeated the Netherlands, 6-2, with both teams already eliminated from the World Baseball Classic.

The Dutch had taken a two-run lead in the first inning thanks to a fielder’s choice Xander Boegarts and a sacrifice fly by Didi Gregorius, but Gelof’s double brought in Noah Mendlinger in the second inning.

Israel then scored five runs in the sixth inning, with Cole Carrigg and RJ Schreck scoring off Gelof’s single. Matt Mervis would then double to bring Gelof and Medlinger home. 

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Cal Raleigh insisted Tuesday he has no beef with Randy Arozarena even though his Seattle Mariners teammate lashed out with a vulgar rant after Raleigh left him hanging for a handshake at the World Baseball Classic.

The kerfuffle went viral when Arozarena, a two-time All-Star outfielder playing for Mexico, cursed out Raleigh to a reporter after the Team USA catcher did not accept a handshake before an at-bat in the United States’ 5-3 win.

Speaking to Mexican journalist Luis Gilbert in Spanish, Arozarena said Raleigh “has to thank God that he has nice parents, well educated,” and said he recently hugged them during a friendly greeting at the team hotel.

He then used profane Cuban and Mexican slang to insult Raleigh before pivoting to English and saying Raleigh could shove his “good to see you” in his rear. Arozarena was born in Cuba but defected to Mexico to pursue an MLB career.

Arozarena had reached down to greet Raleigh in his catcher’s squat at home plate, and Raleigh declined to offer his hand back. Raleigh appeared to say something to Arozarena during the exchange at the plate that could have set off the Mexican star.

Arozarena appeared to be visibly upset at Raleigh, though it wasn’t totally clear if he was just having fun at his teammates’ expense. The pair have been teammates since Arozarena was traded from Tampa Bay to Seattle during the 2024 season.

Raleigh called Arozarena a baseball “brother” while explaining there was no tension between the teammates.

“Emotions are running high,” Raleigh told reporters. “There’s no beef here. Like I said, there’s no story to me. I’m not taking this as a big deal, and I don’t think he is either.”

Mariners manager Dan Wilson told reporters he planned to speak to both of his players at Tuesday.

“These guys are incredible athletes because of their competitiveness, and that’s where they’re at, and that’s why they’ve gotten to the level that they’ve gotten,” Wilson said. “But I also know that our team loves each other deeply. And that’s one of the key ingredients we have in that clubhouse, is how much they love each other, and so I don’t anticipate this being any bit of an issue.”

Wilson doesn’t expect whatever happened between the two to linger into the regular season. The Mariners went 90-72 in 2025 and won the franchise’s first AL West title since 2001 in large part behind Raleigh, who became the seventh player in major league history to hit 60 homers in a season.

“Competitiveness is competitiveness,” Wilson said. “It doesn’t matter. Sometimes, it’s a backyard game. Whatever. These guys are competitive. But like I said, I think the love that they have for each other will shine.”

Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run drive in a big third inning to lead the United States to the win. The U.S. improved to 3-0 and will meet Italy (2-0) on Tuesday night, seeking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.

Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico (2-1), which will face Italy on Wednesday night in the last game of Group B play.

“I hate that this is a thing. I really don’t think this is a big deal, a big story,” Raleigh said. “It shouldn’t be a thing. I love Randy. I have all the respect for him and Team Mexico.”

Reporting by The Associated Press. 

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Daikin Park (Houston) — One more win on Tuesday night would seal Pool B for the United States and send the team through to the quarterfinals, but it won’t come easy.  

And after holding on late Monday night to beat Mexico for the first time since 2006 and remain undefeated, Team USA won’t be taking unbeaten Italy lightly. 

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“With Mexico playing Italy the day after us, we will approach it like it’s a must-win game,” said USA manager Mark DeRosa following the 5-3 win at Daikin Park, home of the Houston Astros. 

USA’s win on Monday avenged its 2023 pool-play loss to Mexico and put the host nation in a strong position to win Pool B. Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony, whose three-run home run turned out to be the difference in the win, described the environment as the loudest game he has ever been a part of. 

“Just amazing to get baseball like that this early in the year,” Anthony said. “And always great when you win. So, the vibes are great.” 

But with the U.S. at 3-0, Italy at 2-0, Mexico at 2-1, nothing is determined yet. The two teams in the pool with the highest winning percentage will advance to the quarterfinals.

If two or more teams have the same winning percentage, the first tiebreaker will be head-to-head record. (The team that won the most games between the tied teams will get the higher position.) 

After that, it gets a bit more complicated, coming down first to the lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games between the tied teams. The next tiebreakers are fewest earned runs allowed between the tied teams, then highest batting average and finally the drawing of lots. (Let’s hope it doesn’t get that far.)

Team USA can avoid any of those scenarios by beating Italy on Tuesday night, when 24-year-old Nolan McLean will make his tournament debut for Team USA against Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen for Italy. 

If that happens, the winner of the game between Italy and Mexico on Wednesday will determine which team advances as the runner-up in the pool. That game will likely feature MLB pitchers Aaron Nola for Italy starting against Javier Assad for Mexico.

Italy’s lineup features a number of MLB players, including Royals hitters Vinnie Pasquantino and Jac Caglianone, White Sox catcher Kyle Teel, Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee and Mariners outfielder Dominic Canzone, who hit a three-run home run in a shutout win against Brazil.

Through two games, Italy’s supporting cast has helped lift the offense. Dante Nori, a 2024 first-round pick of the Phillies, is 5-for-7 with three extra-base hits. MLB veteran Jon Berti is 3-for-5 this tournament, while Andrew Fischer, a 2025 first-round pick of the Brewers, and Angels minor leaguer J.J. D’Orazio have also hit home runs. 

“All these teams are good in this tournament,” said Italy infielder Miles Mastrobuoni. “It’s not just [the U.S.]. But it’s going to be fun to go against those boys, and you got some guys that you play on the same team as, so it’s going to be fun to compete against them. We’re going to give them everything we’ve got, for sure.”

Mexico hopes for another crack at USA 

Despite Mexico’s loss on Monday, manager Benji Gil was pleased with the way his team battled back from a 5-0 deficit. 

“If I had one word to use, I would say admirable, the way they just kept plugging away… facing, as everybody has considered, right, a super team, and yet they battled and battled and battled, and we were one swing away from tying the game,” Gil said. 

Mexico came back to put the tying run at the plate with no outs in the ninth inning before falling short. 

“If you want to go really in depth, we shut them out for seven innings,” Gil continued. “We shut them out for seven innings. And you change one pitch, right, you change one pitch, we’re going into the ninth inning up 3-2.”

Mexico had won the previous three WBC meetings against the U.S. dating back to 2006. 

Three years ago, Mexico upset the U.S. in pool play, but both teams advanced to the quarterfinals. They nearly met again in the finals, as Mexico held a 5-4 lead on Japan in the ninth inning of their semifinal game, but a walk-off from Munetaka Murakami sent Japan through. 

This time, Gil is hoping his team will get another crack at facing USA and believes the result would be different. He’ll need a win against Italy to dream of that scenario. 

“You know what, I want to face them more than I want anything else in the world, how is that?” Gil said. “Unless, I don’t know what the lottery is at right now, but if the lottery is right around $800 million, yeah, I’ll win the lottery and cheer everybody from afar. But outside of that, I desire that more than anything in the world, to face them again in Miami. I think that we’ll end up 1-1 against the U.S. this tournament. And Mexico won’t lose again until three years from now.”

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Defending champion Japan defeated the Czech Republic 9-0 on Tuesday in the final World Baseball Classic Pool C game at the Tokyo Dome.

Despite the score, it wasn’t easy for Japan, which finished 4-0 in pool play. The Czechs, the 2025 European championship bronze medalists, finished 0-4.

Japan, held scoreless through seven innings, broke through with nine in the eighth. Teruaki Sato scored on a double by Kenya Wakatsuki and a throwing error by Czech right fielder William Escala. Ukyo Shuto added a three-run homer and Munetaka Murakami capped the inning with a grand slam.

Czech pitching did the job most of the night as Japan rested Shohei Ohtani to prepare for the quarterfinals in the United States.

Czech starter Ondrej Satoria — pronounced “Andre” — kept Japan scoreless in 4 2/3 innings and very uncomfortable with his soft stuff, almost all in the 68-75 mph range. His fastball barely touches 80.

He scattered six hits and struck out three on 67 pitches.

His replacement, Michael Kovala, kept Japan scoreless in the seventh but stumbled in the eighth and picked up the loss. The win went to Yumeto Kanemaru.

Satoria is famous in Japan. He struck out Shohei Ohtani on three pitches in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Tokyo but missed Ohtani this time.

Japan had already clinched a berth in the quarterfinal, so Ohtani was rested and missed facing Satoria.

“I’m sad,” Satoria said before the game, knowing Ohtani was out of the lineup. “I think a lot of fans are sad, too. Maybe he’s resting for the long trip to Miami.”

All of the Czech players have day jobs. Satoria, who is retiring from the national team, is an electrician and manager Pavel Chadim — that’s Dr. Chadim — is a neurologist.

Chadim wore the 2025 European championship bronze medal to an interview session to make his point.

“I have this medal because I want to show to some people in the world that we are not baseball tourists,” Chadim said. “We are doing baseball as professionals. We don’t want excuses. We play as professionals on the field.”

That worked for seven innings.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

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