For the first time since 2006, Team USA has defeated Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. USA used Paul Skenes' golden right arm and home runs from Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony to beat Mexico in Monday night's crucial Pool B matchup at Daikin Park in Houston (USA 5, MEX 3). Mexico had beaten USA in their three previous WBC meetings.
The win improves USA to a perfect 3-0 in pool play. They are well-positioned to win Pool B and advance to the quarterfinals, though nothing is clinched yet. USA's final first-round game is Tuesday against Italy. Mexico, meanwhile, must beat Italy on Wednesday to advance. Italy is still alive too. Two of Italy, Mexico, and USA will come out of Pool B, and the third team will go home.
Here are four takeaways from USA's win over Mexico, plus a quick look at what's next for both teams.
1. Judge made an impact on both sides of the ball
USA captain Aaron Judge is simply a preposterous ballplayer. Everyone knows about the power -- Judge, Mark McGwire, Babe Ruth, and Sammy Sosa are the only players with four 50-homer seasons -- but he's also a tremendous defender in right field. On Monday, Judge showed off his arm by throwing out Joey Ortiz trying to go first-to-third in the top of the third.
To the action footage:
Notable: Statcast clocked that throw at 91.8 mph, one of Judge's hardest throws since missing time with a flexor strain last year. His throwing was compromised last postseason and opponents knew it. They ran on him at will. Judge has insisted he's healthy since Day 1 of spring training this year and he sure looked it on that throw. Right on the money from deep right field.
In the next half-inning, Judge broke the scoreless tie with a two-run homer to right field. Here's that effortless opposite field power that plays so well in Yankee Stadium:
Later in that third inning, Roman Anthony lifted a three-run homer to right-center to give USA a 5-0 lead. Although they scored 24 runs against Brazil and Great Britain, USA hit only two home runs in their first two games. Then they hit two in one inning Monday.
Judge has opened the scoring with a home run twice in USA's three games. He's 4 for 12 (.333) with the two homers and 5 RBI in the WBC so far. And he made a great throw to snuff out a rally when Monday's game was still scoreless. The power and the offense will always be what Judge is best known for, but he is an impact defender too. Mexico learned that the hard way Monday.
2. Skenes was electric
I mean, when is he ever not electric? Paul Skenes hit 98.9 mph four pitches into Monday's game and he topped out at 99.7 mph en route to striking out seven batters in four scoreless innings. Mexico mustered only a ground ball double and a walk against Skenes, and they missed with 15 of their 31 swings for an absurd 48% whiff rate. That's an elite closer number as a starter.
Here are Skenes' seven strikeouts. There is not a comfortable swing to be found here:
With all due respect to guys like Roger Clemens, Jake Peavy, and Marcus Stroman -- the American aces in previous WBCs -- USA has not had a pitcher like Skenes in the WBC ever. A top of the sport kind of arm. With Tarik Skubal sticking to his one-start-and-done plan, Skenes is The Guy for USA. He'll make another start in the semifinals as long as the Americans advance.
Skenes had some help, of course. Judge threw Ortiz out going first-to-third, and Bobby Witt Jr. made an incredible diving stop to take a hit away. Yes, Alejandro Kirk was running, but this is still as good as it gets.
Witt made a nearly identical play later in the game with Nick Gonzales (slightly speedier than Kirk) running. The talent in the game these days is just incredible and so many of the sport's best players are on USA's roster this WBC. Witt is as good as anyone. So is Skenes, for that matter. He showed it again Monday.
3. Mexico made it interesting
Chip, chip away Mexico did. Jarren Duran put a ball in the Crawford Boxes to get Mexico on the board in the sixth inning, then Jonathan Aranda and Kirk followed with two-out singles. Pinch-hitter Joey Meneses brought Aranda home with a ground ball that took a funny hop and eluded Brice Turang behind second base. A fortunate bounce, this was:
Thanks to that funny hop, Mexico brought the tying run to the plate after being down 5-0. Nacho Alvarez lined out softly to Turang to end the sixth inning, but, in the eighth, Duran hit his second homer of the game, and Mexico again brought the tying run to the plate after Randy Arozarena took a pitch to the elbow guard. A 5-0 game was suddenly 5-3 and getting tense.
Alas and alack, Kirk banged into a rally-killing and inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to end the eighth inning.
Mexico again brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth -- Meneses slipped a ground ball between Bryce Harper and first base for a single -- but Garrett Whitlock carved through pinch-hitters Alejandro Osuna and Julian Ornelas, then Alek Thomas to close out the win. Mexico threatened multiple times late in the game, but was unable to complete the comeback.
4. Mexico made a perfect relay early on
Witt was not the only player on the field flashing leather. With Monday's game still scoreless in the second inning, Mexico executed a picture-perfect relay play to cut down Anthony at the plate. He was trying to score from first on Turang's double, but Duran got the ball in quickly, Alvarez fired home, and Kirk got the tag down.
You won't see many relays better than this:
Ultimately, the play did not matter because USA went on to win, but still. You have to appreciate great defense and a well-executed relay play.
Up next
USA wraps up pool play against Italy on Tuesday night. Mets righty Nolan McLean is lined up to start that one. A win would clinch Pool B and send USA to the quarterfinals. Mexico's final first-round game is Wednesday against Italy. They must win to advance. Italy is still alive too. For now, all you need to know is that USA wins Pool B if they beat Italy on Tuesday. If they don't, then we'll have to do some math. No one wants that.
