TUCSON, Ariz. – Colombia’s march toward the 2026 World Baseball Classic continued with a commanding 8-1 victory over China on the second day of the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers at Kino Sports Complex at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The South American squad controlled the game from the start, securing its second consecutive win in the tournament.
China dropped to 0-2 in the tournament, while Colombia improved to 2-0, now just one win away from securing a spot in next year’s event.
The South American squad, ranked No. 13 in the World Baseball Rankings by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, continued its impressive form after opening the tournament with a 5-0 win against Brazil. China, ranked No. 20, struggled offensively against Colombia’s pitching staff, managing only one unearned run.
This marked the first time Colombia and China faced off in an international senior event.
Colombia manager José Mosquera started Rio Gomez for 3.1 innings before turning it over to relievers Victor Vargas, Jean Herrera, David Lordouy, and Carlos Ocampo. In all, they combined for nine innings, allowing three hits, no earned runs, three walks, and 11 strikeouts.
“Slider and two-seam were the best tonight and still tuning up to take it out as spring training during my outing,” Gomez said during the postgame.
Colombia struck first in the second inning when second baseman Michael Arroyo cracked a two-out, two-run double to center, scoring Dilson Herrera and Francisco Acuna to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
Michael Arroyo gives Team Colombia an early lead with a two-run double! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/zxG72jl6Br
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 4, 2025
In the top of the fourth inning, Brayan Buelvas led off with a fly ball triple to center field.
Jesus Marriaga followed, punishing a 74.6 mph curveball over the left-center field wall for a two-run, 426-feet shot. 5-1 lead.
Jesus Marriaga extends the Team Colombia lead with a LOUD home run! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/pfgQdbI62n
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 4, 2025
Marriaga’s hot hitting continued in the fifth, lacing a two-run single to score Reynaldo Rodriguez and Gio Urshela and mark out a 7-1 lead.
“Marriaga being 25 years old and managing him in a lot of tournaments prior, he can play one of the best positions in the outfield, and I’m excited that he had a really good night today,” Mosquera said during the post game.
Colombia added its final run in the seventh when Buelvas crossed home on a passed ball during Ramirez’s at-bat, making it an 8-1 game.
Ocampo took the mound in the bottom of the ninth for his second inning of relief and sealed Colombia’s victory, inducing a 4-6-3 double play from China’s designated hitter Jiaji Chen to end the game. With the win, Colombia is now on the brink of securing its third consecutive berth in the WBC.
Double play ends it and Colombia cruises to the 8-1 win over China and moves one step closer to the 2026 World Baseball Classic! pic.twitter.com/PZu1A6AOV4
— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) March 4, 2025
China’s pitching, under manager Wei Lei, saw starter Haizheng Wu followed by Jian Yi, Lun Zhao, Wei Zhao, Jie Zhou, and Dancaireng Hua. The staff combined for nine innings, allowing 11 hits, eight earned runs, seven walks, and three strikeouts in Monday’s loss.
With China now 0-2, bouncing back against Brazil on Tuesday afternoon will be a tough task, especially with Lei having already used 12 pitchers over 16.2 innings through two games.
China’s pitching staff surrendered eight hits, nine earned runs, 10 walks, and eight strikeouts in its 12-2 mercy-rule loss to Germany on March 2.