Aaron Judge Leads Team USA to Victory Against Brazil in WBC Opener
United States Dominates Brazil in World Baseball Classic Opener
The United States kicked off its World Baseball Classic campaign with an impressive 15-5 victory over Brazil on Friday night. Aaron Judge made a significant impact, hitting a two-run homer and setting the tone for the game.
The action began in the first inning with Judge delivering a powerful hit off Brazilian pitcher Bo Takahashi. With one out and one runner on base, Judge, who was the first player to commit to the U.S. team last April, put his team ahead early at Houston’s Daikin Park.
Brazil’s Lucas Ramirez, the son of 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, also showcased his talent, hitting two home runs during the match. Ramirez’s leadoff homer in the first inning narrowed the U.S. lead to 2-1, and his solo shot in the eighth inning brought Brazil within striking distance at 8-5. At just 20 years and 49 days old, he became the youngest player in World Baseball Classic history to achieve a multi-homer game.
The U.S. doubled its lead in the fifth inning when Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch, pushing the score to 4-1. Brice Turang capped off a strong performance with a bases-clearing double, extending the lead to 7-1.
This was Brazil’s second appearance in the WBC, their first since 2013. Historically, Brazil has struggled in the tournament, now holding an 0-4 record following losses to Japan, Cuba, and China in their earlier campaign.
One of Brazil’s bright moments came from 17-year-old high school senior Joseph Contreras, who successfully got Judge to ground into a bases-loaded double play in the second inning. Contreras, the youngest player in the tournament this year, is the son of former MLB pitcher José Contreras.
Brazil continued to battle back, with Lucas Rojo hitting an RBI single in the seventh and Victor Mascai blasting a two-run homer off Michael Wacha, cutting the U.S. lead to 7-4. However, the United States responded decisively. Bryce Harper’s RBI single in the ninth inning was a catalyst for a seven-run outburst, sealing the win.
The U.S. displayed remarkable discipline at the plate, drawing 17 walks and forcing Brazil to throw a staggering 221 pitches throughout the game.
Looking ahead, Brazil will face Italy on Saturday, while the United States prepares for a matchup against Britain.
