Judge, Turang power United States to 15-5 WBC rout of Brazil

Team United States opened its World Baseball Classic Pool B campaign with a 15-5 victory over Brazil at Daikin Park in Houston, a win that both showcased American depth and left Brazil’s pitching staff visibly taxed ahead of a Saturday meeting with Italy.

Aaron Judge provided the early spark with a two-run home run in the first inning, connecting off Bo Takahashi with one out and one on to stake the Americans to a quick lead. Brice Turang turned that start into a rout, finishing with three hits and four RBIs. Turang’s biggest blow came in the fifth inning: after Byron Buxton was hit by a pitch to make it 4-1, Turang cleared the bases with a double to left field two pitches later and the lead swelled to 7-1.

Brazil answered with flashes of power. Lucas Ramirez, 20 years and 49 days old, hit two home runs and became the youngest player in WBC history with a multi-homer game. His leadoff shot early in the game cut the deficit to 2-1 and his solo blast in the eighth inning pulled Brazil to within 8-5. Ramirez’s father, Manny Ramirez, the 12-time All-Star, was in attendance.

The Brazilians also got contributions from Lucas Rojo, who delivered an RBI single in the seventh, and Victor Mascai, whose two-run homer off Michael Wacha trimmed the margin to 7-4 and tested the U.S. bullpen. A notable defensive moment for Brazil came in the second inning when 17-year-old Joseph Contreras, the youngest player on this year’s WBC roster and a high school senior, induced Aaron Judge into a bases-loaded double play to end the inning. Contreras is the son of former major leaguer José Contreras.

While Brazil demonstrated budding talent and pop in the lineup, the game turned into a lesson in patience and depth for the Americans. Team USA drew 17 walks and forced Brazil to throw 221 pitches, wearing down the opposition and creating constant traffic on the bases. Bryce Harper’s RBI single ignited a nine-inning flourish in the ninth that produced seven insurance runs and padded a final score that underlined American control.

The lopsided outcome reinforced familiar themes for both teams. For the United States, the lineup’s combination of long-ball ability and plate discipline provided a template for how it can eat through quality pitching in short tournament bursts. For Brazil, the offensive highlights from Ramirez and the poise of teenagers like Contreras offered hope, but the heavy pitch count and the need for more reliable depth on the mound are immediate concerns as the team prepares to face Italy.

The result positions the U.S. to carry momentum into its Saturday game against Britain, while Brazil must regroup quickly with a short turnaround and a greater strain on its pitching staff after throwing 221 pitches in Houston. The tournament moves quickly; the performance left clear early choices for both teams about rotation management and bullpen usage going forward.