WBC: Mexico Surges Late, Thumps Great Britain

Players from Mexico and Great Britain during their Pool B game in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images

March 6, 2026

Mexico 8, Great Britain 2

HOUSTON (Mar. 6) — A three-run seventh-inning homer by Jonathan Aranda broke a 1–1 tie, opening the door for seven late runs as Mexico thumped Great Britain, 8–2, in the opening game of Pool B in the World Baseball Classic.

Mexico – Great Britain Game Summary

Mexico took a 1–0 lead in the top of the second against Great Britain starter Jack Anderson. It came on a one-out homer to left-center by Nacho Alvarez Jr. Great Britain tied it on a one-out solo shot to the Crawford Boxes in left by Harry Ford off Mexico reliever Alex Carrillo.

The game remained tied into the eighth inning. Mexico put runners on first and second with a pair of two-out walks off Great Britain reliever Gary Gill Hill. Great Britain brought in Tristan Beck to escape the jam, but Jonathan Aranda had other ideas, giving Mexico a 4–1 lead with a three-run blast to the Crawford Boxes.

Mexico blew the game open in the ninth with four more runs. After a pair of leadoff walks, a ground-ball force at second, and a stolen base, Alek Thomas notched a two-run single to make the score 6–1. A Joey Ortiz double scored Thomas. Two batters later, Randy Arozarena drove Ortiz in with a single. This made it 8–1 heading into the bottom of the ninth.

Great Britain scored one consolation run in the ninth off Mexico closer Andres Munoz. This came on a one-out double to the left-field corner by Trayce Thompson. The two-bagger scored Ian Lewis Jr from first, completing the scoring.

What Went Right for Mexico

Made Their Hits Count Early On

Nacho Alvarez Jr.’s second‑inning homer wasn’t merely Mexico’s first run — it was a release valve. After the game, Alvarez admitted he barely remembered the swing. “I really blacked out when I hit it,” he said. Later, he added, “It’s an honor to represent this country.” Mexico didn’t have many early baserunners, but the few balls they squared up mattered.

Clutch Relief Pitching

Mexico’s relievers stranded runners in scoring position in four separate innings. Manager Benji Gil singled out Alejandro Kirk as the quiet engine behind Mexico’s pitching success. “It would be a mistake not to mention Alejandro Kirk,” he said with a big smile. He added, “The way he handled the pitching staff” was “outstanding.”

Got Out of Several Jams

Gil emphasized that Mexico’s defense was as responsible as the pitching:

“It’s hard to say we are the best defense in the tournament, but it’s also real difficult for somebody to point out a better defense than what we have.”

He specifically praised shortstop Joey Ortiz, left fielder Randy Arozarena’s throw to the plate, and second baseman Nick Gonzalez’s plays in the field — all of which preserved the tie until the offense erupted.

What Went Wrong for Mexico

Many Batted Balls Didn’t Find Grass

Mexico’s early lack of batted-ball luck — combined with nice defense by Great Britain — kept the game tighter than their quality of contact suggested. Gil noted that Mexico hit three balls to the wall in right field that were caught — including a highlight play by Trayce Thompson of Great Britain. “Thompson made an incredible play,” he said, referring to a leaping catch on the warning track on a deep drive by Aranda in the sixth. “That was a two‑run double if he doesn’t make that play.”

Struggled to Cash In before the Breakthrough

The at‑bats improved as the game went on, but the missed chances in the fifth and sixth kept Great Britain in striking distance. Gil acknowledged that it might have been some early jitters. “Some of these guys have never played in the game,” he said, referring to the World Baseball Classic itself. He continued, “Some have been waiting three years to put the uniform on again.”

What Went Right for Great Britain

Did Not Give Up Many Hits until Late

For six innings, Great Britain executed their pitching plan. Jack Anderson and the early relievers held Mexico to three hits and one run. This kept them within striking distance. And after Ford’s game-tying homer, Great Britain kept the game level into the seventh.

Cracked Eight Hits

Great Britain finished with eight hits, including Harry Ford’s no‑doubt homer — his third career WBC home run after hitting two in the 2023 tournament. Trayce Thompson added an RBI double in the ninth, and GB consistently put the ball in play throughout the night.

Played Hard to the End

Even down seven in the ninth, Great Britain kept competing. Thompson’s RBI double and Lewis Jr.’s aggressive read from first reflected the same identity manager Brad Marcelino emphasized postgame. “We’re going to fight every inning, every pitch. That’s who we are,” the skipper said.

What Went Wrong for Great Britain

Runners Left in Scoring Position

Great Britain left nine runners on base, including five in scoring position. They did so in the first, fifth, sixth, eighth, and ninth. Their best chance came in the fifth, when they put two aboard with one out but couldn’t push a run across. The missed opportunities kept Mexico narrowly ahead, then kept the game tied until Mexico finally broke through.

Ill-advised Send

In the sixth, with the game still tied 1–1, Great Britain attempted to score Matt Koperniak from second on Ivan Johnson’s single to left. Randy Arozarena charged aggressively in the shallow field — 315 down the line — and delivered a perfect throw home. This cut Koperniak down for the third out. Instead of taking a late lead, GB walked off the field empty‑handed — a turning point Marcelino acknowledged afterward.

Late-inning Relief

The seventh and ninth innings unraveled quickly. Gary Gill Hill’s two walks set the table for Aranda’s three‑run homer, and the ninth saw four more runs score on a mix of walks, singles, and a double. Marcelino summed it up. “We were one pitch away a few times, and we didn’t get it.”

Quotes

“These games teach you quickly. We’ll take the lessons and be ready for the next one.” — Brad Marcelino on the learning curve of the tournament

“The guys competed. They always do. That’s the identity of this group.” — Marcelino on Great Britain’s effort

“We kept repeating in the dugout: just keep having good at‑bats. It is going to come.” — Mexico manager Benji Gil

“It’s real difficult for somebody to point out a better defense than what we have.” — Mexico manager Benji Gil

Quick Hits

Jonathan Aranda delivered the game’s biggest swing with a three‑run homer in the seventh, breaking a 1–1 tie.
Nacho Alvarez Jr. homered in his first WBC at‑bat and has two RBI in the tournament.
Harry Ford homered for the third time in his World Baseball Classic career after hitting two in 2023.
Alek Thomas reached base three times and, during the four-run ninth, drove in two.
The Mexico relief corps allowed one run over 4 2/3 innings, stranding multiple Great Britain runners in scoring position.

Looking Ahead

Robert Garcia earned the win for Mexico with Gary Gill Hill taking the loss for Great Britain. Both were in relief.

Mexico has Saturday off before facing Brazil Sunday night. First pitch will be at 7 pm Central. Great Britain will face the other group favorite, Team USA, Saturday at Noon Central.