Team Mexico secured its first-ever opening win in the World Baseball Classic, defeating Great Britain 8-2 in Pool B play at Daikin Park in Houston on Friday. The victory came before a crowd of 29,724, mostly supporting Mexico, and featured key home runs from both sides. Mexico's Jonathan Aranda hit a pivotal three-run homer in the eighth inning to break a 1-1 tie.
Team Mexico entered the 2026 World Baseball Classic aiming to move past past disappointments, including a 2023 semifinal loss to Japan. On Friday, they achieved a historic milestone by winning their opening game for the first time in six tournament appearances, beating Great Britain 8-2 in the Pool B matchup at Daikin Park in Houston.
The game remained close through seven innings, tied at 1-1. Mexico's Nacho Alvarez Jr. provided the early lead with a 394-foot solo home run off Jack Anderson's 97.1 mph fastball in the second inning. Great Britain responded in the sixth when catcher Harry Ford, a hero from their 2023 WBC run, hit a 361-foot solo homer off Alex Carrillo to even the score. Ford's celebration included a full foot guard uniform with a faux-bearskin cap, while Alvarez Jr. donned a Lucha Libre mask after his homer.
The turning point arrived in the eighth. With Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena walking off Gary Gill Hill, Jonathan Aranda smashed a 346-foot three-run homer against Tristan Beck's 96.8 mph fastball. Aranda, a 27-year-old Tampa Bay Rays first baseman coming off a .315 average, 14 homers, and All-Star selection in 2025, described the moment: “I never ran this fast after a home run, ever. It was a very [significant] home run... I’m very happy for the country.”
Mexico added four runs in the ninth for the final 8-2 score. Manager Benji Gil praised the fans and players: “They were into it the whole time... I’m really happy to get off on the right foot.” Great Britain manager Brad Marcelino noted their missed opportunities, stranding nine runners: “You have to cash in on the situations... We just didn't kind of scratch out some of those runs.”
Mexico faces Brazil next on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, while Great Britain plays the USA on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
