HOUSTON, Texas — 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.
Mexico improved to 1-0 to begin tournament play, while Great Britain dropped to 0-1 despite outhitting Mexico 8-6. Great Britain stranded nine runners and finished 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
The game also marked the first World Baseball Classic contest ever played in the state of Texas.
Mexico also added infielder Mateo Gil to the roster after Luis Urías suffered an injury during the team’s final exhibition game against the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier in the week.
Mateo Gil has been added to Mexico’s WBC roster. ??
He has replaced Luis Urías. pic.twitter.com/vpKvY0tGg4
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) March 6, 2026
Early Lead for Mexico
Nacho Alvarez Jr. gave Mexico an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when he launched a solo home run to left-center field off Great Britain starter Jack Anderson.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. hits a solo home run in the second inning for Mexico against Great Britain, the first home run of Pool B at the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park in Houston.
Mexico starter Javier Assad worked 3.2 scoreless innings before manager Benji Gil turned to his bullpen under World Baseball Classic pitch count regulations. Assad allowed two hits, walked one, struck out two, and threw 51 pitches, 29 for strikes.
“A lot has changed. I am learning more. I have been pitching more in the big leagues,” Assad said during media day on March 5. “And currently I am very grateful, very happy with the opportunity I have been given after all of the hard work, trying to get a spot in the major leagues.”
Great Britain Ties the Game
Great Britain pulled even in the bottom of the sixth when Harry Ford hit a solo home run to left field to make it 1-1.
Harry Ford takes off and ties it for Team Great Britain! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/ldsYJ6oIwL
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 6, 2026
Moments later, Great Britain threatened to take the lead after Ivan Johnson singled to left, but Randy Arozarena threw out Matt Koperniak at home plate to preserve the tie. Key defensive moment
Don't run on Randy ? pic.twitter.com/NdHKoDmJ1G
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 6, 2026
Great Britain manager Brad Marcelino said his team believed it could seize momentum in that moment but praised the aggressive approach.
“Ivan Johnson put a good swing on it, thrown out at the plate, could have taken some momentum there,” Marcelino said. “But overall we battled. I’m proud of how those guys competed.”
Aranda Delivers the Decisive Blow
Mexico capitalized two innings later.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Jarren Duran drew a walk and Arozarena followed with another free pass before Aranda drove a three-run homer to left field off Tristan Beck to put Mexico ahead 4-1.
Aranda finished 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs, delivering the decisive hit in a game that remained tied through seven innings.
Mexico Adds Insurance in the Ninth
Mexico broke the game open in the ninth. After Jared Serna entered as a pinch-runner for Rowdy Tellez, Alek Thomas hit a two-run single to center field to score Serna and Nick Gonzales for a 7-1 lead.
Joey Ortiz followed with an RBI double to right field, and Arozarena added an RBI single to push the lead to 8-1.
Great Britain got one run back in the bottom of the ninth when Trayce Thompson doubled to left field to score Ian Lewis Jr. and make it 8-2.
Alek Thomas tacks on two insurance runs for Team Mexico! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/HMjFC4GGdJ
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 6, 2026
Mexico used eight pitchers in the win, with Robert Garcia earning the victory after a scoreless seventh inning. Andrés Muñoz pitched the ninth and recorded the final three outs to close it out.
Mexico Building on 2023 Momentum
Rowdy Tellez said Mexico entered the tournament determined to build on its semifinal run from the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
“What we did last time, just being 30 outs short of winning the championship, kind of weighed on us,” Tellez said during media day. “Coming back, a lot of us wanted to avenge that and represent Mexico better and bring a championship there.”
Mexico reached the semifinals in 2023 before falling 5-4 to Japan at loanDepot Park in Miami on Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double. That run marked the deepest World Baseball Classic finish in program history.
Manager Benji Gil said the energy from that team has carried into this tournament.
“I wish it would never have stopped,” Gil said. “The team three years ago was really special, and I think we picked up right where we left off.”
Great Britain’s Outlook
Great Britain, managed by Bradley Marcelino, returned to the World Baseball Classic after going 1-3 in the 2023 tournament.
“Nameless and faceless. Us versus us. We execute. We are on the attack, no matter what,” Marcelino said prior to the game.
Harry Ford led Great Britain offensively, going 2-for-3 with a home run and a walk. Ian Lewis Jr. added two hits, while Trayce Thompson finished with two hits and an RBI.
Olympic Qualification Stakes
The 2026 World Baseball Classic also carries Olympic implications. The top two finishers from the WBSC Americas region will qualify for the baseball tournament at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The United States has already qualified automatically as the host nation.
What’s Next in Pool B
Mexico will return to Pool B play on March 8 against Brazil at 8 p.m. ET. Great Britain will face the United States on March 7 at 8 p.m. ET.
Pool B Schedule — Daikin Park (Houston, Texas)
March 6
Game 2 — United States vs. Brazil — 8 p.m. ET
March 7
Game 3 — Brazil vs. Italy — 1 p.m. ET
Game 4 — Great Britain vs. United States — 8 p.m. ET
March 8
Game 5 — Great Britain vs. Italy — 1 p.m. ET
Game 6 — Brazil vs. Mexico — 8 p.m. ET
March 9
Game 7 — Brazil vs. Great Britain — 1 p.m. ET
Game 8 — Mexico vs. United States — 8 p.m. ET
March 10
Game 9 — Italy vs. United States — 9 p.m. ET
March 11
Game 10 — Italy vs. Mexico — 7 p.m. ET
