Redemption in Houston: Judge and Anthony Lead Team USA Past Mexico

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One night after shaking off a sluggish start against Great Britain, Team USA (3-0) officially took control of Pool B with a gritty 5–3 victory over rivals Mexico on Monday. In front of a raucous, split crowd at Daikin Park in Houston, the Americans relied on a massive third-inning explosion and a dominant professional debut on the mound from Paul Skenes to remain undefeated.

The win puts the United States on the verge of clinching a spot in the quarterfinals, with only a Tuesday night clash against Italy remaining in pool play.

The Third Inning Blitz

For the second game in a row, the American bats were held silent early, this time by Mexico’s Jesus Cruz. However, the deadlock vanished in the bottom of the third when the heart of the U.S. order finally connected.

The Captain’s Blast: After Bryce Harper reached on a single, Aaron Judge demolished a 1-2 hanging slider, sending it deep into the right-field seats for a two-run home run.
The Anthony Arrival: Just three batters later, 21-year-old rising star Roman Anthony—the youngest player on the roster—etched his name into WBC lore. With Kyle Schwarber and Cal Raleigh on base, Anthony launched a towering three-run moonshot into the second deck.
The Damage: In a span of ten minutes, the U.S. turned a scoreless tie into a commanding 5–0 lead.

Skenes Lives Up to the Hype

Making his highly anticipated tournament debut, Paul Skenes was every bit the “Alien” fans expected. The Pittsburgh Pirates ace silenced the potent Mexican lineup with a triple-digit fastball and a devastating “splinker.”

The Line: Skenes tossed 4.0 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven.
The Velocity: Skenes hit 102 mph three times in the first inning, effectively neutralizing Mexico’s Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena.

Monday Night Box Score: USA 5, Mexico 3

Team	R	H	E	Key Performance
Mexico	3	6	0	Jarren Duran: 2 Solo HRs
USA	5	8	1	Roman Anthony: 3-run HR

Mexico did not go quietly. Red Sox star Jarren Duran attempted to mount a comeback single-handedly, hitting solo home runs in both the fifth and eighth innings. A U.S. fielding error in the fifth allowed another run to score, cutting the lead to 5–2, but the American bullpen held firm. Garrett Whitlock entered in the ninth, working a 1-2-3 inning to earn the save.

The Skubal Situation: One and Done?

While the team celebrated the win over Mexico, the big news off the field involved Saturday’s starter, Tarik Skubal. Despite initial hints that he might reconsider his “one-start-only” plan, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa confirmed on Monday that the reigning Cy Young winner will indeed return to Detroit Tigers camp.

“This was one of the tougher decisions I’ve made,” Skubal told reporters. While he won’t pitch again in 2026, his three dominant innings against Great Britain—where he struck out five after a leadoff homer—set the defensive tone for the Americans’ current 3-0 run.

Up Next: The “Pizza Bowl” vs. Italy

Team USA faces Italy (2-0) tonight, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Italy has been the surprise of Pool B, having dismantled Brazil and narrowly escaped Great Britain. A win tonight would guarantee the U.S. the top seed heading into the quarterfinals in Miami.