Team USA, Chinese Taipei Earn Wins in World Baseball Classic

The U.S. dominates Great Britain while Chinese Taipei edges Korea in extra innings

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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In the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Team USA routed Great Britain 9-1 behind a strong pitching performance and Kyle Schwarber's go-ahead home run. Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei edged Korea 5-4 in a back-and-forth thriller that ended with a dramatic play at the plate in the 10th inning. Other notable results included Japan defeating Korea 8-6 and Puerto Rico walking off against Panama.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international baseball tournament that showcases the top talent from around the globe. These early pool play results will help shape the tournament landscape and determine which teams advance to the later rounds.

The details

In the Team USA victory, Boston Red Sox utility man Nate Eaton gave Great Britain an early lead with a leadoff home run, but the American pitching staff combined for 17 strikeouts and no walks. Kyle Schwarber's go-ahead homer in the fifth inning sparked the U.S. offense. The Chinese Taipei-Korea game featured constant lead changes, with neither team building more than a one-run advantage. Chinese Taipei first baseman Nien-Ting Wu recorded the game-saving out at the plate in the 10th inning to preserve the upset win.

  • The 2026 World Baseball Classic is currently underway.
  • Team USA defeated Great Britain on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Chinese Taipei edged Korea in extra innings on Saturday, March 8, 2026.

The players

Nate Eaton

A Boston Red Sox utility player who hit a leadoff home run for Great Britain in the loss to Team USA.

Kyle Schwarber

The Team USA slugger who hit the go-ahead home run in the fifth inning to propel the Americans to victory.

Nien-Ting Wu

The Chinese Taipei first baseman who recorded the game-saving out at the plate in the 10th inning to preserve the upset win over Korea.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The early results of the 2026 World Baseball Classic have showcased the depth of talent across the international baseball landscape, with underdogs like Chinese Taipei pulling off dramatic upsets and traditional powers like Team USA flexing their muscles. As pool play continues, the tournament is shaping up to be an exciting showcase of the global game.