Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes issued seven strikeouts and allowed one hit over four shutout innings in his World Baseball Classic debut Monday in Houston. File Photo by Bill Greenblat/UPI | License Photo
Paul Skenes allowed just one hit, while Aaron Judge and Roman Anthony homered Team USA past Mexico on Monday night at the World Baseball Classic.
Skenes unleashed his arsenal on the mound, pitching four shutout innings in his World Baseball Classic debut to propel the 5-3 triumph at Daikin Park in Houston.
“It was awesome,” Skenes told reporters. “Great atmosphere. It was nice to feel like I’m doing something rather than just taking up a hotel room and eating all the free meals.
“It was good to go out there and do my job.”
The win was the Americans’ first over the Mexicans at the World Baseball Classic in 20 years. Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran homered twice in the loss.
Judge ripped a two-run bomb in the third for the first runs of the night. Anthony crushed a three-run shot four at-bats later for a 5-0 edge and the Americans never looked back.
Skenes, who issued seven strikeouts and just one walk, retired the first eight batters he faced. Duran hit a third inning single for Skenes’ lone blemish, but was stranded when Judge threw out Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz at third base during the same sequence.
The New York Yankees slugger came to the plate for his second at-bat of the game in the bottom of the inning. He earned a 2-1 lead in the count against Mexican relief pitcher Jesus Cruz. He then smacked Cruz’s fourth offering, an 89.4-mph slider, to right field for a 364-foot homer.
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber singled two pitches later. Cruz hit Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh with a pitch two at-bats later to put two runners on base for Anthony.
The Boston Red Sox outfielder hit the second pitch of that exchange to right center for a 417-foot, three-run shot. Team USA threatened several more times over the final six innings, but could not add to the lead.
Duran ripped a 364-foot solo homer to left center in the sixth for Mexico’s first run. Athletics infielder/outfielder joey Meneses hit an RBI single later in the inning to cut the deficit to three.
Duran plated himself for the final run of the night with a 374-foot solo homer to right field in the eighth inning. The Red Sox star went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the loss.
Judge and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. recorded two hits apiece in the victory. Judge, who walked twice, reached base four times for the Americans.
Team USA sits at 3-0 in Pool B. Mexico (2-1) is in third, behind second-place Italy (2-0). Great Britain (1-3) and Brazil (0-4) are in fourth- and fifth-place, respectively.
The Americans will face the Italians in their Pool B finale at 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Houston. That matchup will air on FS1. Mexico will battle Italy at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Houston, with coverage available on Tubi.
“I have a ton of respect for Mexico and [manager] Benji Gil,” Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said. “Their team is a legit team, bottom line. Great game, great atmosphere, ton of respect for them.”
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