HOUSTON (Mar. 9) \u2014 A five-run surge in the third gave the United States<\/a> the separation it needed to hold firm for a 5\u20133 victory over Mexico<\/a> on Monday night in Pool B of the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n The first scoring chance came in the bottom of the first, when the United States loaded the bases with two outs for Cal Raleigh<\/a><\/strong>. However, he struck out, stranding the runners. Another scoring chance came in the bottom of the second. With one out and Roman Anthony<\/a><\/strong> on first, Brice Turang<\/a><\/strong> ripped a double to right. Anthony, running to second on the pitch, rounded third and headed home. Jarren Duran<\/a><\/strong>, who had run down the ball before it reached the fence, fired to relay man Nick Gonzales<\/a><\/strong>, who sent a dart to catcher Alejandro Kirk<\/a><\/strong>. It arrived in time to tag Anthony on the calf for the second out.<\/p>\n A half-inning later, with Joey Ortiz<\/a><\/strong> on first after reaching on a two-out Turang error, Duran hit a soft liner to right for a base hit. The hustling Ortiz rounded second and headed to third. Judge fielded the ball on one hop and fired to third. Alex Bregman<\/a><\/strong>, after faking like no throw was coming, stabbed the throw on one hop and barely had to move his glove to tag the sliding Ortiz a few feet shy of the bag.<\/p>\n In the next half inning \u2014 the bottom of the third \u2014 Aaron Judge<\/strong><\/a> put the United States ahead of Mexico with a two-run clout several rows deep in the right-field seats. Anthony made the lead 5\u20130 later in the inning with a soaring, majestic three-run bomb off the face of the second deck in right-center.<\/p>\n In the top of the sixth, Duran made the score 5\u20131 with a solo shot to the Crawford Boxes in left. It became 5\u20132 later in the frame when Joey Meneses<\/a><\/strong> drove a run in on a high, slow bouncer that Turang couldn\u2019t come up with. Duran narrowed the gap again to 5\u20133 with a towering solo homer to right in the top of the eighth. Mexico brought the tying run to bat in the ninth after a leadoff Meneses single, but United States reliever Garrett Whitlock<\/a><\/strong> recorded two strikeouts and a grounder to second to seal the victory.<\/p>\n Paul Skenes<\/a><\/strong> gave the United States exactly what it needed: early stability and a path to that decisive third inning. He tossed four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts.<\/p>\n The third inning changed everything. Judge\u2019s two-run blast broke open a scoreless game, and Anthony\u2019s three-run drive off the face of the second deck pushed the margin to 5\u20130. It was the only inning in which the United States scored, but it was enough. That surge forced Mexico to play from behind the rest of the night and gave the United States room to absorb Mexico\u2019s comeback attempts.<\/p>\n Two early plays kept the game scoreless and gave the United States momentum. In the second, Judge\u2019s throw to third cut down Joey Ortiz to end a potential rally. One inning earlier, Mexico had erased a United States scoring chance with a relay to the plate, but Judge\u2019s answer in the top of the third was a perfect counterpunch.<\/p>\n Mexico\u2019s offense came alive in two bursts. Duran\u2019s solo shot in the sixth put Mexico on the board, and Meneses\u2019 slow bouncer later in the inning trimmed the margin to 5\u20132. Duran struck again in the eighth with a towering drive to right, bringing Mexico within two.<\/p>\n Mexico starter Manny Barreda<\/a><\/strong> kept the United States off the board through the first two innings and escaped two scoring threats \u2014 a bases\u2011loaded jam in the first and a double in the second that nearly produced a run.<\/p>\n After the five\u2011run surge, Mexico\u2019s relief corps settled the game. They held the United States scoreless from the fourth inning onward, giving their offense a chance to climb back.<\/p>\n Everything turned in that frame. Judge\u2019s two\u2011run drive flipped the scoreboard, and Anthony\u2019s three\u2011run blast put Mexico in a deep hole. The inning forced Mexico to chase the rest of the night, and although they chipped away, the early deficit proved too steep.<\/p>\n Mexico reliever Jesus Cruz<\/a><\/strong> took a Bryce Harper<\/a><\/strong> line-drive comebacker off the foot in the bottom of the third. Harper was the first batter he faced. After the medical staff checked him and he walked it off for a few minutes, he stayed in the game.<\/p>\n Skenes earned the win for the United States as Cruz took the loss for Mexico in relief. Whitlock notched the save.<\/p>\n Mexico is off Tuesday, but the United States will face 2\u20130 Italy in a crucial game. With a win over Italy Tuesday, the United States would clinch a spot in the quarterfinals and win Pool B. First pitch will be at 8 pm Central Time.<\/p>\nUnited States \u2013 Mexico Game Summary<\/h3>\n
Getting on the Board<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for the United States<\/h3>\n
Starting Pitching<\/h4>\n
Built a Big Inning<\/h4>\n
Defense<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the United States<\/h3>\n
The Sixth and Eighth Innings<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for Mexico<\/h3>\n
Starting Pitching<\/h4>\n
Stopped the Bleeding after the Third<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for Mexico<\/h3>\n
The Third Inning<\/h4>\n
Injury Scare<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n