United States 15, Brazil 5
HOUSTON — The United States drew 17 walks and cracked 10 hits en route to a 15–5 rout of Brazil in the nightcap of Day One of Pool B in the 2026 World Baseball Classic Friday. Brazil made a valiant showing, led by two homers from Lucas Ramirez — son of Manny Ramirez.
United States – Brazil Game Summary
A towering Aaron Judge two-run homer to left-center gave the United States a 2–0 lead in the top of the first. Lucas Ramirez — son of 19-year major leaguer and 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez — led off the bottom of the first with a homer to right-center, cutting the lead to 2–1. Kyle Schwarber scored from third on a one-out walk-wild pitch combo drawn by Cal Raleigh to make it 3–1 in the third.
The gap widened with one out in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Byron Buxton took a pitch off the hand for a painful RBI. After being checked by the medical staff, he stayed in the game, turning a nervous silence into cheers as the score became 4–1. Brice Turang followed with a bases-clearing double off the high fence in left, making it 7–1. A walk by Bobby Witt, an infield-fly-rule out, and a successful double steal put runners on second and third with two outs for Judge. Brazil escaped further damage as Judge flied to shallow right, retiring the side.
Brazil used a three-run seventh to claw back to within striking distance. All three runs came with two outs. The first came on an RBI Lucas Rojo single. The next two came on a homer to left-center by Victor Mascai. These made the score 7–4.
A Second Homer for Ramirez before the Game Gets Out of Hand
The teams exchanged runs in the eighth. The United States tallied theirs on an RBI single to right by Roman Anthony. Brazil scratched theirs on another homer from Ramirez, his second of the game.
The United States turned it into a blowout in the ninth, adding seven runs to make the score 15–5. But with Brazil being the home team for this game, they still had to bat. And since it was the ninth, the run rule was irrelevant. Closer Mason Miller — who was going to pitch the ninth no matter what the score, according to manager Mark DeRosa — struck out the side in a 1–2–3 ninth to cement the win.
What Went Right for the United States
Patience at the Plate
The United States didn’t merely win — they waited their way to a blowout. Their 17 walks set, to the recollection of DeRosa, a World Baseball Classic record.
Capitalized on Opponent Mistakes
Brazil’s lack of command repeatedly opened doors. The United States turned free passes into runs in multiple innings — including a walk‑wild pitch combo in the third and the bases‑loaded hit‑by‑pitch in the fifth. Brice Turang’s bases‑clearing double came immediately after another walk extended the inning.
What Went Wrong for the United States
Left “a Small Village” on Base
The United States could have put Brazil away earlier. They left 13 men on base, with 11 in scoring position. This could have given them a mercy-rule win, which would have saved some relievers for later games. “We left a small village on base,” DeRosa bluntly stated.
What Went Right for Brazil
Stayed Close until the Ninth
The score was 8–5 heading into the top of the ninth — certainly within striking distance.
Got Some Big Hits Off Big-time Pitching
Brazil didn’t back down from elite hurlers. Lucas Ramirez jumped on a hanging sinker from Logan Webb, homering on the second pitch he saw. Later, Victor Mascai punished a missed heater from Michael Wacha for a two‑run shot. DeRosa specifically credited Brazil’s hitters for capitalizing on those mistakes, saying Wacha “missed two heaters over the heart of the plate that kept them in it.”
Lucas Ramirez
A two-homer game is always a point of pride. For Lucas Ramirez to do that in the same building where his father Manny hit a home run in the 2004 All-Star Game was even more special. When asked if he was aware of his Manny’s All-Star Game feat, Lucas smiled and said, “I am aware.” The follow-up came — how it felt to have his two-homer World Baseball Classic game in the same building where his father hit the All-Star Game homer. Lucas beamed, “It was awesome. I have to give glory to God. It’s all the preparation this offseason. Got me where I wanted to be. It was awesome.”
Lucas’ mother, who is from Brazil, was also at this game. When asked about how it felt to have his dad and mom both there watching him, he said, “This is the best day ever of my life, to be honest. My mom doesn’t really make it to all of the games because she is back home with my brother. My dad is at most of the games. I’m really thankful that my family was here to watch me play. Even if I did bad or good [sic], I am grateful they were here watching me play. Thank God, two bombs today. I say you go out there with confidence you can do anything. If you say it out loud it will happen. I am telling you. It will happen.”
Lucas explained further that he had been “envisioning a first-at-bat bomb” since the qualifiers. Every time he went to bed for five months, after praying, he visualized it. Because of that, he said, “I told you!” while running the bases after the homer.
What Went Wrong for Brazil
The Fifth Inning
This was the turning point. Brazil only trailed 3–1 before the inning unraveled: a hit‑by‑pitch with the bases loaded, followed by Turang’s three‑run double off the high wall in left. A walk, an infield‑fly out, and a double steal added more pressure before Judge finally flied to shallow right for the third out. By the time the dust settled, the U.S. had turned a close game into a 7–1 lead.
The Ninth Inning
The United States lineup exploded for seven runs in the ninth, turning a competitive game into a laugher. Because Brazil was the home team, they still had to bat, but Miller struck out the side to end it.
Lack of Command
As mentioned earlier, they allowed 17 walks.
Quick Hits
Buxton OK: Byron Buxton left the game heading into the bottom of the fifth. After the game, DeRosa said x-rays were negative and the pitch hit the “meaty” part of his forearm. He pulled Buxton because the score was 7–1. “Get him off his feet and get him right,” DeRosa said of the logic.
Webb Settled In: After giving up Ramirez’s leadoff homer, Webb “took an inning to lock in,” then dominated for three innings with six strikeouts and no walks.
Looking Ahead
Webb earned the win for the United States as Bo Takahashi took the loss for Brazil. Webb allowed one run on one hit across four innings. That one hit was, of course, the leadoff homer to Lucas Ramirez. Webb walked none and struck out six. Takahashi allowed two runs on three hits, walking one and fanning one in one inning.
Both teams play again Saturday. Brazil will face Italy in the latter’s opening game, and the United States will face Great Britain. First pitches will come at Noon and 7 pm Central, respectively.
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