Mexico Powers Past Great Britain in World Baseball Classic Opener

HOUSTON – Team Mexico began its 2026 World Baseball Classic campaign with a decisive 8-2 victory over Great Britain on Friday at Daikin Park in Houston. This win marks the first time Mexico has won its opening game in the tournament’s six iterations.

A crowd of 29,724, largely comprised of enthusiastic Mexican fans, witnessed the team’s strong start in Pool B play. Manager Benji Gil expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and the unwavering support from the fans.

“They were into it the whole time,” Gil said. “The game was tight for eight innings and the Mexican fans’ energy never wavered. And neither did that of our players. And I’m really happy to get off on the right foot, that had eluded us in all the past Classics.”

Aranda’s Homer Breaks the Tie

The game remained tied 1-1 until the eighth inning when Jonathan Aranda, the Tampa Bay Rays first baseman, launched a three-run home run. The 346-foot blast scored Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena, shifting the momentum firmly in Mexico’s favor.

Aranda described the exhilaration of the moment, noting, “I never ran this prompt after a home run, ever. It was a very significant home run, because we were tied and then that at-bat gave positivity for the team, and I was so happy for the team. Not just the team, but for the country. We are playing for these colors, and I’m very happy for that.”

Gil praised Aranda’s consistent performance, stating, “Last year, at the All-Star break, he was one of the top 10 hitters in all of baseball, doesn’t matter where they’re from or what position. And you can see the quality of his at-bats. He is an All-Star … I think he is a perennial All-Star. I think he is going to end up being an MVP-type candidate hitter.”

Early Lead and Solid Offense

Mexico initially took the lead in the second inning with a solo home run by Nacho Alvarez Jr., a 394-foot shot off a fastball from Jack Anderson.

While Great Britain managed to tie the game in the sixth inning with a solo home run from Harry Ford, a Nationals catcher, they struggled to capitalize on opportunities, leaving nine runners stranded throughout the game.

Great Britain manager Brad Marcelino acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, saying, “It’s definitely an area where we know we demand to be better against a team like that. You have to cash in on the situations when you have that type of traffic. Traffic was great. I thought our guys battled. We were putting the ball in play, grinding out at-bats, tough at-bats. We just didn’t kind of scratch out some of those runs.”

Looking Ahead

Mexico will aim to continue its winning streak against Brazil on Sunday night at 8 ET on FS1. This victory positions them favorably in the round-robin tournament, where the top two teams from Pool B will advance to the knockout stage.

Great Britain will face Team USA on Saturday at 8 ET on FOX, seeking to rebound from this opening-game loss.

This win represents a significant first step for Mexico, building on their strong performance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where they reached the semifinals before falling to Japan.