Team USA beats Mexico 5-3, WBC delivers everything it promised

Team USA walked into Daikin Park on Monday night expecting a home crowd advantage and instead got booed out of their warmups by thousands of Mexico fans who took over a stadium in Houston, Texas like they owned the place.

Randy Arozarena ran out in a traditional poncho and the third-base stands absolutely lost it. Aaron Judge got booed every single time he stepped to the plate. The Mexican national anthem was belted out by the entire building. This was not what the USA was expecting and it did not matter one bit.

Final score: Team USA 5, Mexico 3.

Paul Skenes handled the atmosphere like a veteran in his WBC debut. Four shutout innings, seven strikeouts, two total baserunners. He was touching triple digits all night and barely broke a sweat.

Paul Skenes was absolute FILTH

Paul Skenes, Four Seam Fastball and Sinker, Overlay.

Both of these pitches are 98 mph. Even if you're timing up the velo, you're hosed.

One of many reasons hitting against Paul Skenes is a nightmare. 😳 pic.twitter.com/p6oaqLURdL

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 10, 2026

The only time Skenes showed any emotion was when Bobby Witt Jr. made the first of two diving plays at shortstop behind him and Skenes cracked a rare smile. Otherwise it was pure business.

Bobby Witt Jr was incredible

Bobby Witt Jr. come on man… pic.twitter.com/JOmFJi5lZf

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 10, 2026

Paul Skenes pic.twitter.com/OSwD35MWGc

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) March 10, 2026

Aaron Judge had been eating boos all night when he stepped in against Jesus Cruz in the third inning with runners on. He went the other way on an outside slider and dropped it into the right-field bleachers for a two-run homer.

Team USA fans finally had something to scream about. Then 21-year-old Roman Anthony turned on another Cruz slider and put it 417 feet over the American bullpen in right-center. Five-run inning. That was the game.

ALL RISE: Aaron Judge Goes YARD

ALL RISE 🇺🇸 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/uEzg0NHLNI

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) March 10, 2026

Roman Anthony puts Team USA up 5-0

ROMAN ANTHONY!

TEAM USA LEADS 5-0! #WORLDBASEBALLCLASSIC pic.twitter.com/oKE9UhZFPB

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 10, 2026

Mexico made it interesting. Jarren Duran hit two home runs including one in the eighth that made it 5-3 with Arozarena on base and the entire building at full volume. Matt Boyd hit Arozarena and Andy Pettitte came out for a mound visit with the crowd absolutely rocking. Griffin Jax got Kirk to ground into a double play. Garrett Whitlock shut the door in the ninth. Done.

Team USA is 3-0. Mexico drops to 2-1 and faces a win-or-go-home game against Italy on Wednesday. The US plays Italy tomorrow night to clinch the pool. Judge has homered in back-to-back games. Anthony just announced himself on the biggest stage he has ever played on. Skenes was everything you hoped he would be.

This tournament has been delivering every single night. Monday was no different.

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