Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes power Team USA over Mexico to secure spot in World Baseball Classic quarterfinal

Aaron Judge crushed a two-run homer to give the United States an early lead over Brazil.

After three straight wins to begin the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), Team USA earned a spot out of Pool B, advancing to the quarterfinal round after defeating Mexico, 5-3, in Houston on Monday night. 

Mexico has been the victor in each of the last three matchups against the U.S., including the 2023 game that ended with El Tri taking down the Stars and Stripes, 11-5. 

But thanks to some bat power from captain Aaron Judge and 21-year-old Boston Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony, Team USA was able to end that streak at Daikin Park. 

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Aaron Judge of the United States reacts to hitting a home run in the third inning during a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Mexico and the United States at Daikin Park on March 9, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)

After the U.S. was unable to cash in on bases loaded in the first and runners on in the second, Judge wasted no time hitting his second home run of the tournament, taking Jesus Cruz to right field for a 2-0 lead. 

Then, after Kyle Schwarber singled to right, and Cal Raleigh was hit by a pitch, Anthony didn’t miss a stitch of a pitch inside. The towering moonshot took forever to land, and Anthony, who was gunned down at the plate in the bottom of the second inning, got some redemption by breaking the game open. 

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The tone was certainly set by Paul Skenes, who got his first Team USA start in the WBC and was lights out. He allowed just one hit and struck out seven hitters over four innings (60 pitches). 

Skenes’