The 2026 World Baseball Classic continued Friday with Japan, the Dominican Republic and the United States among the many groups starting pool play.
The eight-game schedule started with Shohei Ohtani’s offensive exploits at the Tokyo Dome. It ended with the opposite two favorites permitting their opponents to hold round however finally posting double-digit wins as effectively.
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It was a day low on upsets however plentiful in intel on the match favorites.
Chinese Taipei 14, Czechia 0
The mercy rule got here out for Chinese Taipei, which had 19 batters attain base in seven innings earlier than the sport was known as. They scored a number of runs within the majority of innings performed, whereas Czechia managed solely 5 complete bases.
The loss provides TPE their first win after a disappointing begin, with losses to Australia and Japan, and strikes Czechia to 0-3 within the match.
USA 15, Brazil 5
Team USA has a 1-0 document within the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And maybe some work to do.
Let’s simply say the Americans walked however didn’t run towards Brazil, which had the deficit at solely three runs getting into the ninth inning. The U.S. did notch a 15-5 win, nevertheless it was the type of efficiency the Americans cannot afford to have towards the opposite WBC powers.
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You would count on a lineup that includes the likes of Aaron Judge, Kyle Schwarber and Cal Raleigh — 169 mixed homers in 2025 — to blast off towards a Brazilian pitching employees that includes a number of youngsters, however the American offense as an alternative got here down to 2 stats: 17 walks and a 5-for-21 efficiency with runners in scoring place.
Dominican Republic 12, Nicaragua 3
We can say this for Nicaragua: This group hung round.
The Dominican Republic has maybe probably the most stacked lineup within the WBC and is one among three co-favorites within the match. Yet as the sport reached the sixth inning, it was tied 3-3 after Nicaragua chased Cy Young finalist Cristopher Sanchez after 1 1/3 innings of labor.
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It didn’t final, although. The D.R. scored 9 runs over the subsequent three innings and finally produced the type of last rating everybody anticipated. Junior Caminero, Julio Rodriguez and Oneil Cruz all homered, placing the sport effectively out of attain.
Puerto Rico 5, Colombia 0
The most wide-open pool of the match is Pool A, wherein Cuba, Puerto Rico, Canada and Colombia all have an actual likelihood to advance to the knockout spherical. Puerto Rico received an enormous increase with a win Friday.
A seven-man group of pitchers together with starter Seth Lugo and nearer Edwin Díaz shut out Colombia. A five-run, fifth-inning rally gave Puerto Rico all of the runs it wanted in entrance of the house crowd in San Juan.
Mexico 8, Great Britain 2
Jonathan Aranda’s three-run homer for Mexico off Tristan Beck broke a 1-1 tie within the eighth inning. Beck entered the sport for Great Britain after Gary Gill Hill walked Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena to place the go-ahead runs on base.
Mexico added 4 extra runs within the prime of the ninth inning. Alek Thomas drove in two with a single off Graham Spraker, then Joey Ortiz doubled Thomas in after Dylan Covey relieved Spraker for Great Britain. Ortiz got here round to attain on an RBI double from Arozarena.
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Gill Hill took the loss, permitting two runs, whereas Spraker gave up three. Robert Garcia was credited with the win for Mexico after pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
Venezuela 6, Netherlands 2
Luis Arraez and Willson Contreras every drove in two runs to steer Venezuela to a 6-2 win over the Netherlands in Pool D play on Friday at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Venezuela’s different two runs have been batted in by Wilmer Abreu and Javier Sanoja, each of whom hit 2-for-4 (as did Contreras).
Ranger Suarez allowed one run and three hits in two innings to earn the win, whereas Jaydenn Estanista gave up 4 runs for the Netherlands. Dutch starter Antwone Kelly took the loss, permitting two runs in his three innings.
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Druw Jones knocked in each of the Netherlands’ runs with an RBI double within the second and a sacrifice fly within the sixth.
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Japan 13, Chinese Taipei 0
Shohei Ohtani hit a grand slam, finished with five RBI and was a triple shy of the cycle in Japan’s opening win over Chinese Taipei.
The 10-run second inning by Japan set a WBC document for many runs in a single inning. The earlier document was eight, held by the U.S. (2023) and Cuba (2009). Ohtani’s 5 RBI within the second inning are additionally a document for a single inning.
Japan will subsequent play Saturday at 5 a.m. ET (FS1) towards Korea, whereas Chinese Taipei hits the sector Friday at 10 p.m. ET (FS2) towards Czechia.
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Cuba 3, Panama 1
Yoán Moncada’s two-run house run within the prime of the third inning helped Cuba defeat Panama within the opening recreation for each groups. And the Los Angeles Angels’ third baseman did not simply do it with the bat; he additionally used his protection to maintain Cuba’s opponents at bay.
Panama simply couldn’t benefit from alternatives through the shut defeat. Six runners have been left on base, and the group went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring place.
Both groups are subsequent in motion on Sunday, when Cuba takes on Colombia (12 p.m. ET; FS2) and Panama faces Canada (7 p.m. ET; FS2).
Saturday’s schedule & learn how to watch
Korea vs. Japan: 5 a.m. ET on FS1
Colombia vs. Canada: 11 a.m. ET on FS2
Nicaragua vs. Netherlands: 12 p.m. ET on Tubi
Brazil vs. Italy: 1 p.m. ET on Fox Sports app
Panama vs. Puerto Rico: 6 p.m. ET on FS1
Israel vs. Venezuela: 7 p.m. ET on FS2
Great Britain vs. United States: 8 p.m. ET on Fox
Chinese Taipei vs. Korea: 10 p.m. ET on FS2
