US tops Mexico 5-3 in WBC thriller

Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony homer to lead Team USA past Jarren Duran's Mexico squad.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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In a highly anticipated World Baseball Classic matchup, the United States defeated Mexico 5-3 at Houston's Daikin Park. Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run blast in a big third inning to power the US to victory over Jarren Duran's Mexico squad.

Why it matters

The WBC is a premier international baseball tournament that showcases the top talent from around the world. This matchup between baseball powerhouses USA and Mexico was a highly anticipated early-round clash that could have major implications for the tournament's outcome.

The details

The US jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third inning, with Aaron Judge hitting a two-run shot and Roman Anthony following with a three-run homer to chase Mexico starter Jarren Duran. Mexico fought back with three runs later in the game, but the US bullpen was able to hold on for the 5-3 win.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 10, 2026.
  • The key third inning outburst by the US occurred around 8:15 pm local time.

The players

Aaron Judge

A star outfielder for the United States national team and the New York Yankees.

Roman Anthony

A rising young slugger who plays for the US national team and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Jarren Duran

The starting pitcher for Mexico's national team who plays for the Boston Red Sox in MLB.

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What they’re saying

“That was a huge win for us against a really talented Mexico team. Our guys came up big in that third inning and our pitching held on late.”

— Mike Matheny, Manager, United States national team (ESPN)

“We battled back but just couldn't overcome that big inning. Hats off to the US, they played a great game tonight.”

— Vinny Castilla, Manager, Mexico national team (MLB.com)

What’s next

The US will face Japan in the next round of the WBC, while Mexico will look to rebound against the Dominican Republic.

The takeaway

This thrilling WBC matchup between baseball powerhouses USA and Mexico lived up to the hype, with the US emerging victorious behind the big bats of Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony.