The China Mail - Judge, Skenes deliver as USA reach World Baseball Classic quarters

New York Yankees slugger Judge hammered a two-run shot to right field off Mexico pitcher Jesus Cruz to give the USA a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning in the Pool B clash.

Cruz was exposed again soon afterwards when Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony pounced on an 85 mile-an-hour slider to crush a 417-foot homer into right center field.

That three-run shot sent Kyle Schwarber and Cal Raleigh over home plate and gave the USA a 5-0 lead.

Mexico's batting lineup meanwhile was kept scoreless after a masterful four innings from Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes, the 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner making his tournament debut.

Skenes finished with seven strikeouts in four scoreless innings to take the sting out of the Mexican lineup early on.

Mexico threatened a comeback after a pair of home runs in the sixth and eighth innings from Jarren Duran made it 5-3, before Boston reliever Garrett Whitlock came in to close out the ninth successfully.

The win marked a noticeable uptick in intensity after the USA's comfortable opening victories over Brazil and Great Britain, a fact reflected by Judge's passionate reaction after his third inning homer.

"It's playoff baseball in March – that's what it's all about," Judge said afterwards. "A little bit of March madness here, and I love it. The fans came with it today. This was a fun atmosphere, an exciting atmosphere and the boys were ready to go.

"This place got pretty rowdy when Mexico got going, but the boys stayed locked in and delivered a win."

The result leaves the USA on track to top Pool B and could leave them facing Cuba in the quarter-finals on Friday.

M.Zhou--ThChM