Guide to the World Baseball Classic

[Ro Mueller]

Brazil and Italy were scoreless through 5 and a half innings before Italy grabbed 2 runs in the 6th and 4 more in the 7th, ultimately winning 8-0. Andrew Fischer did not get to play for Italy in this game.

[Samurai Bucky]

On 3/6/2026 at 3:08 PM, owbc said:

And now he adds an RBI double to go with the superb fielding. 

It has to be AI... 😉

Keep it up, Joey!

[owbc]

It is great to be able to watch this much prime time baseball in early March. Loving every second of this tournament. 

[Ro Mueller]

Panama led Puerto Rico 2-1 with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning and 3-2 in the 10th, but ultimately fell 4-3 on a walk-off Darell Hernaiz solo homer with 2 outs in the 10th. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Venezuela no tuvo ningun problema con Israel, cruising to an 11-3 victory. LHP Angel Zerpa tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning: pop out, pop out, ground out. William Contreras and Jackson Chourio got to rest.

[Ro Mueller]

With Brice Turang resting, Team USA trailed Great Britain from the first pitch (solo homer) until the 5th inning, when the Brits brought in a literal scrub (Andre Scrubb - 2B, WP, HR, 2B). The US scored 5 in that frame, winning 9-1.

Of course, the real story was Miles Langhorne facing Bryce Harper (infield single), Will Smith (sac fly), Gunnar Henderson (infield single) and Roman Anthony (K’d on 3 pitches). 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Three homers and a sac bunt powered Taiwan as they defeated favored South Korea 5-4 in extra innings. Their captain couldn’t hit (broken finger), but pinch ran and scored the winning run.

South Korea now needs help to reach the quarterfinals - e.g. Japan must beat Australia; then South Korea must score at least 7 against Australia without conceding more than 2 runs. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

The Aussies are hanging tough against Japan, getting a great escape here to end the 4th inning. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Australia led Japan 1-0 in the 7th inning, but conceded a Masataka Yoshida 2-run homer to turn the tide in a 4-3 win for Japan.

Alex Hall homered late to narrow the deficit. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Brewers’ 2025 first round pick 3B Andrew Fischer is starting today for Italy against Great Britain. Box score.

[Ro Mueller]

…and Andrew Fischer promptly homered in his first plate appearance: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Andrew Fischer singled in a run his next time up, giving Italy a 3-2 lead. I'd say he's an amped fellow, from all indications. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

The Dominican Republic easily handled the Netherlands, winning 12-1 in 7 innings.

RHP Abner Uribe impressed in the 7th inning, touching 100.1mph and registering 2 Ks. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Andrew Fischer’s 3rd inning homer sparked 7 unanswered runs for Italy as they built a 7-2 lead over Great Britain. Fischer went 2-for-4 with the homer and 2 RBIs.

Things tensed up over the final 2 frames, but Great Britain stranded a runner at 3rd in the 8th and the bases loaded in the 9th. Italy prevails 7-4.

RHP Jack Seppings stranded 3 inherited base runners for the Brits in the 4th inning as part of 1.1 IP of middle relief work (2 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 0 Ks).

[Ro Mueller]

RHP Carlos Rodriguez gets the start for Nicaragua against Israel, who send the Orioles' Dean Kremer out to start. 

[Ro Mueller]

Carlos Rodriguez did his part (4 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 HBP, 4 Ks), but Nicaragua was shutout on 2 hits as they fell 5-0 to Israel.

SS Freddy Zamora went 0-for-2 with a K and a back-breaking GIDP with the bases loaded to end the top of the 5th while trailing 1-0.

[Ro Mueller]

Mexico demolished Brazil 16-0 in 6 innings, notching 4 homers and 4 doubles. SS Joey Ortiz went 1-for-3 with a run scored. 

[Ro Mueller]

Canada lost a close one to Panama 4-3, with 3 errors allowing 3 unearned runs.

Tyler Black had a pinch hit strikeout to end the 8th inning. LHP Rob Zastryzny allowed 2 hits in one scoreless inning, helped out by an outfield assist.

[Ro Mueller]

South Korea had to walk a tightrope to qualify for the knock-out rounds. And they did it, beating Australia 7-2 to win the tiebreaker over Australia and Taiwan.

Down 6-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning, Australia sac bunted a runner over and Travis Bazzana singled him home to briefly give themselves the tiebreaker advantage, down 6-2.

But a costly error in the top of the 9th enabled Hyun Min Ahn to deliver a sacrifice fly to win 7-2 and advance.

Each of Taiwan, Australia and South Korea allowed 7 runs total in their head-to-head games, but South Korea did so over 19 defensive innings, thus giving them the edge. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a 2nd inning grand slam as the Dominican Republic trounced Israel 10-1. 

[Ro Mueller]

Colombia finished up its 2026 WBC experience by grabbing a 4-3 win over Panama. Both teams finished with 1 win and 3 losses in group play.

That’s a disappointing finish for Panama, who had an outside chance of making the knock-out rounds with a win.

[Ro Mueller]

Great Britain 1-hit Brazil to end their 2026 WBC campaign on a high note with an 8-1 victory. 

[Ro Mueller]

William Contreras with a nice scoop and tag in Venezuela’s win over Nicaragua: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

After missing 2 games with that bruised hand, Jackson Chourio’s first WBC plate appearance was a productive one: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Martin Maldonado delivered the big 3-run double in the 2nd inning of Puerto Rico’s 4-1 victory over Cuba, thus clinching a place in the knock-out rounds.

Cuba will need to defeat Canada on Wednesday to secure their own spot.