Team USA Outlasts Brazil, 15-5, in World Baseball Classic Opener: Recap, Takeaways
It wasn’t a pristine night for Team USA and if it were not for an inexperienced opponent, the outcome could have been different, but the squad was able to defeat Brazil, 15-5, in its first game of the World Baseball Classic. While it never seemed that the Brazilians were going come from behind for the upset, the United States allowed its opponent to climb back, 8-5, in the seventh inning before plating seven runs in the ninth to secure the victory in Houston.
The win places the U.S. (1-0) in a tie with Mexico in the Pool B standings.
Team USA: Fast Start, Shaky Middle, Strong Finish
Things for the U.S. could not have started in a better fashion. With one out and Bobby Witt Jr. on first base after a leadoff single, captain Aaron Judge clubbed a 405-foot home run to straightaway center field to give his squad an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. The dinger, while watching live, seemed to portend a laugher in favor of Team USA, but that was not what ensued.
Brazil was able to strike back in the bottom half of the first with a solo shot by Lucas Ramirez off starting pitcher Logan Webb, the first of his two homers for his country, to make the score, 2-1. It was the only run and only hit that Webb allowed in an effective four-inning outing.
The scoring slowed briefly for both teams as neither was able to drive in a run in the second inning. Then the U.S. gave itself some distance from Brazil with one run in the third inning and four runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Brice Turang for a 7-1 lead for the Americans.
Michael Wacha Stood Out For Team USA Along With Roman Anthony
A combination of Webb and Michael Wacha for the U.S. was fantastic from the second through the sixth innings, retiring 15 Brazilian batters in a row, but that, along with the good feels, changed in the seventh. Wacha first allowed Lucas Rojo to single and drive in an RBI, then gave up a two-run homer into left-center field by Victor Mascai, bringing the score to 7-4.
Roman Anthony drove in the lone run via a single to bring home Judge in the top half of eighth inning, while Ramirez smashed another home run in the bottom of the same inning.
The Americans maintained a three-run cushion going into the ninth inning, where they would pull away. Of the seven runs to score, four were driven in because of a bases on ball or balk. Brazilian pitchers allowed an astronomical 17 walks and had issues with the pitch clock throughout the 15-5 contest.
Takeaways
Team USA is facing tremendous pressure as one of the favorites to win the WBC and avenge its 2023 loss to Japan, and it showed through parts of the ball game against Brazil. The offense was able to score 15 runs, but it was blatantly helped by erratic pitching; a more capable staff might have completely stymied the U.S.
Speaking of pitching, the United States displayed flashes of dominance. It appeared the staff was going to allow the offense to relax, but then the combination of Wacha and Gabe Speier led to Brazil pulling within striking distance of a potential victory. More consistent pitching will go a long way for the Red, White and Blue.
With all of that said, the first game is finally behind Team USA, which should enable them to focus on playing its best baseball going forward. The team is far too talented.
Team USA plays Great Britain on Saturday, 8 ET on FOX.
