Friday’s Results
Japan (1-0) 13, Chinese Taipei (0-2) 0 (Seven Innings) – Shohei Ohtani launched a grand slam that will forever be a part of World Baseball Classic lore as Japan romped to a mercy rule-shortened win to open the defense of their 2023 World Baseball Classic title.
Cuba (1-0) 3, Panama (0-1) 1 – Cuba got 3 2/3 shutout innings from Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League MVP Livan Moinelo and another 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief from Yariel Rodriguez as the island’s pitchers held the isthmus’s batters to just five hits and two walks. A solo homer from Yoelkis Guibert in the second and a two-run homer Yoan Moncada in the third provided all the offense Cuba needed.
Venezuela (1-0) 6, The Netherlands (0-1) 2 – Venezuela easily cruised to a 6-2 win in the opening game of Pool D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, capitalizing on weak relief work by the Netherlands bullpen in the fifth inning, sending nine batters to the plate and scoring four runs.
RELATED: In Miami, the opening game of the World Baseball Classic was a celebration for Venezuelan fans
Mexico (1-0) 8, Great Britain (0-1) 2 – Jonathan Aranda broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run home run in the top of the eighth inning, lifting Mexico to an 8-2 win over Great Britain on Friday afternoon in the opening game of Pool B at the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park.
Puerto Rico (1-0) 5, Colombia (0-1) 0 – Seth Lugo pitched four-plus innings of three-hit ball at Hiram Bithorn Stadium as Puerto Rico won their opener at home in San Juan, scoring five runs on five hits and four walks.
Dominican Republic 12, Nicaragua 3 – Nicaragua got out to an early late, chasing Dominican starter Cristopher Sanchez after just 1 1/3 innings, but the Dominican lineup turned up the heat on Nicaragua’s bullpen, scoring two runs in the sixth, another in the seventh, and then six in the eighth. Junior Caminero, Julio Rodriguez, and Oneil Cruz each homered for the Dominican Republic.
United States 15, Brazil 5 – Team USA’s offense erupted almost immediately when Bobby Witt Jr. reached to begin the game and captain Aaron Judge launched a two-run home run into the left-center field walkway to give the United States a 2–0 lead in the top of the first inning.
RELATED: Lucas Ramirez hits 2 homers for Brazil in WBC with dad Manny Ramirez watching
Chinese Taipei (1-2) 14, Czechia (0-3) 0 (Seven Innings) – Following a mercy rule loss to Japan the night before, Chinese Taipei kept its World Baseball Classic hopes alive with a mercy rule victory of its own, defeating Czechia 14-0 on Saturday afternoon in front of a packed crowd at the Tokyo Dome.
Saturday’s Schedule
All times Eastern Standard Time
5 a.m. – South Korea (1-0) vs. Japan (1-0) – Tokyo Dome – TV: FS1 – Japan will try to improve to 2-0 behind starter Yusei Kikuchi, while South Korea’s Yo Pyung Ko look to lead his club to an upset.
11 a.m. – Colombia (0-1) vs. Canada (0-0) – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – TV: FS2 – Canada’s Michael Soroka gets the nod from Ernie Whitt against Colombia’s Julio Teheran.
Noon EST – Nicaragua (0-1) vs. The Netherlands (0-1) – loanDepot Park – TV: Tubi – Erasmo Ramirez, a veteran of 14 Major League seasons, will start for Nicaragua against Jaitone Kelly for the Netherlands in what is an early must-win game for both teams.
1 p.m. EST – Brazil (0-1) vs. Italy (0-0) – Daikin Park – TV: FOX App – Samuel Aldegheri, the first MLB player to have grown up playing baseball in Italy, will start for the Azzurri in their opener in Houston. Brazil hasn’t named a starter.
6 p.m. EST – Panama (0-1) vs. Puerto Rico (1-0) – Hiram Bithorn Stadium – TV: FS1 – Former New York Met Ariel Jurado will start for Panama against lefty Ed Rivera for Puerto Rico.
7 p.m. EST – Israel (0-0) vs. Venezuela (1-0) – loanDepot Park – TV: FS2 – Princeton, N.J.-native and Hightstown High School alum Ben Simon will start Israel’s opener. He’ll face Enmanuel De Jesus, who has been a workhorse over the last two seasons in Korea’s KBO League, where he posted a 3.85 ERA over 335 innings with the Kiwoom Heroes in 2024 and the KT Wiz in 2025.
8 p.m. EST – Great Britain (0-1) vs. United States (1-0) – Daikin Park – TV: FOX – Two-time defending American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will make his only start for the United States tonight, facing Tyler Viza. Viza is making his second WBC appearance for Great Britain and has pitched in both Taiwan and Mexico since last appearing in affiliated baseball in 2022 in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system.
10 p.m. EST – Chinese Taipei (1-2) vs. South Korea (1-0) – Tokyo Dome – TV: FS2 – Gu Lin Ruei-Yang will start Chinese Taipei’s final game of pool play. A win would likely spare the 2024 WBSC Premier12 champs from having to qualify for the next World Baseball Classic, while a loss combined with an upset win by Czechia in their finale against Japan on Tuesday morning would bring the tiebreaker into play.
Photo: Aaron Judge runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Brazil, Friday, March 6, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
