TUCSON, Ariz. – As the sun set behind the North Catalina Mountains on a 71-degree evening in the desert, Colombia shut out Brazil 5-0 on the opening day of the second and final 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifier at the Kino Sports Complex at Veterans Memorial Stadium in front of 2,332 fans in attendance.
The game lasted two hours and twenty three minutes.
Brazil will play (1-0) Germany at 1 p.m. EST on Monday, March 3 at Veterans Memorial Stadium and Colombia will play (0-1) China at 8 p.m. EST.
Tomorrow Germany’s Tommy Sommer will start on mound, while Enzo Yusuke Sawayama toes the slab for Brazil in both teams’ second game of the 2025 WBCQ.
Rio Gomez will touch the bump tomorrow against China. China is coming off a 12-2 mercy rule loss in seven innings, a game in which they committed four errors. China will now have to contend with a tough Colombia lineup that has shown it can take advantage of defensive miscues.
Colombia starting pitcher Julio Teheran dominated in Sunday’s win, allowing only one hit, chucking six innings with no walks, striking out four batters, and dicing up 41 of 54 pitches for strikes.
“Me and Jair Camargo were on the same page and we executed during the game. The main thing when coming into the game is to throw strikes and be effective against Brazil’s offense,” Teheran said during the postgame press conference.
Colombia manager Jose Mosquera’s bullpen delivered a strong performance, with relievers Ezequiel Zabaleta, Revier Sanmartin and Pedro Garcia combining for three scoreless innings, allowing two hits, and five strikeouts.
“We have a solid bullpen with options going into the rest of the week with guys that have a lot of experience. Zabaleta and Garcia have high velocity in their fastball and that was the plan to go with those guys tonight in the first game of the qualifiers that we prepared for going into Sunday,” Mosquera said during the postgame.
Colombia is ranked at No. 13 in the World Baseball Rankings, which are published by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. Brazil is ranked at No. 23, China is at No. 20 and Germany is at No. 17. Nicaragua ranked at No. 16 and Chinese Taipei ranked at No. 2 in the WBR, qualified for the 2026 WBC.
In the bottom of the second inning, Colombia struck first as Gio Urshela led off with a triple down the right-field line past the outstretched glove of Lucas Ramirez.
The next batter, Jair Camargo, hit a ground ball to Brazil second baseman Lucas Rojo with the infield playing back, bringing Urshela in to score and giving Colombia a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Brazil manager Daniel Yuichi Matsumoto decided to go to the bullpen and called on right-hander Tiago Da Silva to replace starting pitcher Bo Takahashi.
Takahashi threw 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, and striking out three batters while dialing in 40 pitches for 27 strikes.
Colombia extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when outfielder Brayan Buelvas drove an RBI single into left field, scoring Dilson Herrera to make it 2-0.
Brayan Buelvas makes it a 2-0 lead for Team Colombia 😤 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/Wc0BPKz1ER
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 3, 2025
Brazil did not record its first hit until the top of the sixth inning, when shortstop Vito Ito laid down a bunt single to Colombia first baseman Reynaldo Rodríguez, who couldn’t secure the glove flip, allowing Ito to reach safely.
Colombia kept adding on in the bottom of the sixth. Right fielder Jesus Marriaga ripped a line-drive double to right field, scoring Brayan Buelvas to make it 3-0.
“I felt like the offense was on point and we got the runs when we needed them. For me it was big to have the lead as a starter and when we got that first run it gave me confidence on the mound to hold their offense throughout the night,” Teheran said during the postgame.
A few moments later, Francisco Acuña laced a sharp line-drive double to left field, bringing in Marriaga and extending the lead to 4-0.
Colombia capped its scoring in the bottom of the seventh when Camargo came home on a wild pitch during Marriaga’s at-bat, stamping a 5-0 lead.
Pedro García entered in the top of the ninth and retired Brazil in order, striking out Lucas Ramírez for the final out to secure Colombia’s 5-0 win in the first game of the 2025 WBC Qualifier.
Shutout Sunday 💪
Pedro Garcia closes it out for Team Colombia! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/vz0Y1Vx5xz
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 3, 2025
Brazil’s pitching staff struggled in Sunday night’s loss, combining for eight innings while allowing 10 hits, five earned runs, seven walks, and striking out six in their first game of the 2025 WBC Qualifier.
Colombia and Brazil in International Competition
Colombia’s last major international tournament appearance came at the 2023 Pan American Games, where they won gold by defeating Brazil 9-1 in Santiago, Chile. The nation has also captured three gold medals in senior international competition, winning the Baseball World Cup in 1947 and 1965 and the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1946. At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Colombia finished 1-4 in Pool C, earning its lone win against Mexico but failing to advance after a 7-5 loss to Great Britain. The team also competed in the 2017 WBC, defeating Canada before falling to the United States and the Dominican Republic. Colombia qualified for that tournament by sweeping the 2016 WBC Qualifier in Panama, but fell short in the 2013 WBC Qualifier, going 1-2. World Baseball Network’s coverage of Colombia’s WBC history and official roster moves highlights key players and decisions leading into the 2025 qualifiers here.
Brazil has won eight gold medals at the South American Championship, one more than Argentina, but finished runner-up at the 2024 tournament in Lima, Peru, falling 2-1 in the gold medal game. The team also reached the 2023 Pan American Games final, losing 9-1 to Colombia in Santiago, Chile.
Brazil qualified for its only World Baseball Classic appearance in 2013 after going 3-0 in the 2012 WBC Qualifier, where it defeated Panama twice and Colombia in Panama City. Under Hall of Famer Barry Larkin, the team went 0-3 in Pool A at the 2013 WBC, with losses to Japan, China, and Cuba. Brazil fell short in subsequent qualifiers, losing to Israel and Great Britain in 2016, and going 2-2 in 2022 before dropping the final qualifying game to Nicaragua. World Baseball Network’s coverage of Brazil’s WBC history and its 2025 qualifiers roster examines key players and decisions ahead of the tournament here.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a Qualifier nation will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and a Qualifier nation will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and a Qualifier nation will compete at loanDepot Park in Miami in Pool D from March 6-11.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
2025 WBC Qualifiers Schedule – Veterans Memorial Stadium
All WBC Qualifier games will stream live on the World Baseball Classic website, as well as on its Facebook page, MLB.TV, and YouTube channel, with coverage running through the final out of the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., on March 6.
All Game Start Times Are Listed Eastern Standard Time
March 3, 2025
Brazil vs. Germany – 1 p.m. EST
Colombia vs. China – 8 p.m. EST
March 4, 2025
China vs. Brazil – 1 p.m. EST
Germany vs. Colombia – 8 p.m. EST
March 6, 2025 – Qualifier Game
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 8 p.m. EST
Two Or More Teams Tied Standing Scenario
If two or more teams have the same record, head-to-head results determine the higher rank. If three or more are tied, the team that allowed the fewest runs per out recorded against the tied teams advances. If still tied, earned runs per out recorded will be used. If a tie remains, the team with the highest batting average in head-to-head games moves on. If no winner is determined, World Baseball Classic Inc. will hold a drawing to decide.
