Judge's homer sets the tone in Team USA's blowout vs. Brazil

HOUSTON – An All-Star lineup of Major League sluggers and a deep, sturdy pitching rotation gave Team USA sky-high expectations entering the World Baseball Classic. They delivered in their first game, though the process wasn’t as easy as some might have expected.

Team USA beat Team Brazil, 15-5, in a game that could have been closer if not for Brazil’s erratic pitching. They walked 17 batters – including five in the ninth inning alone – dampening what was an admirable offensive showing, in a game that was winnable until the ninth inning got completely out of hand.

Earlier, this was a compelling game, complete with dramatic moments that met expectations set long ago when Team USA put together one of the most talented lineups in the history of the WBC. The game was barely 10 minutes old when Aaron Judge unloaded on a Bo Takahashi fastball for a two-run homer, hinting that a blowout might be on the horizon.

That was certainly the expectation of a raucous Daikin Park crowd of 30,825 that showed up hoping for fireworks. Early on, they got them.

“It has been great,” Judge said of the atmosphere at the ballpark. “I can go back to the first inning. Bobby Witt [Jr.] is up there and they are chanting 'USA.' My heart was pounding in the on-deck circle.

“It was an unreal atmosphere. And looking forward to more moments like that as the tournament goes on. We have a squad that is excited. We are gelling pretty early, which has been great. And it is time to take care of business.”

Team USA’s first breakout arrived in the fifth inning when Brice Turang lined a bases-clearing double that clanged off the left-field wall, giving the USA a six-run lead.

But Brazil kept chipping away. They even outhomered Team USA, 3-1.

Two of those homers came from leadoff hitter Lucas Ramirez, the son of 12-time MLB All-Star Manny Ramirez and one of the youngest participants in the WBC this year.

Ramirez launched his first long ball off right-hander Logan Webb’s second pitch of the game. It marked the 10th leadoff homer in WBC history, and the first since Canada’s Edouard Julien in the 2023 Classic.

Ramirez’s second homer – a towering 354-foot no-doubter to right field off Gabe Speier in the eighth – narrowed Brazil’s deficit to three runs, and hinted at a comeback.

The ninth inning put all of that to rest. Team USA plated seven runs despite logging only three hits in the inning. The rest came on walks and one balk.

At that point, DeRosa’s focus shifted from strategy to longer-term planning, especially when managing the bullpen.

“I know these guys are going to bang,” DeRosa said about the offense. “We had 17 walks today. I think it is a WBC record. We left, I believe, a small village on base. There were 12 guys left on base.

“For me, the focus is on our pitching side. All of the parameters and guidelines that go into that, you find yourself counting pitches, counting innings, trying to get bullpen guys in the game, not giving them too much time off.”

Team USA plays Great Britain on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, and then it will take on Mexico on Monday at 8 p.m. ET, also on FOX. The matchup with Mexico, widely considered USA’s most formidable opponent, will feature reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.

“I know people are definitely looking forward to the U.S.-Mexico game because they have a fantastic team over there,” Judge said. “But we have to take it one game at a time. And when they are next for us, we will lock it in for that.”