USA shows how powerful they can be in World Classic
United States shows off its batting in beating San Francisco Giants in preparation for the 2026 World Baseball Classic
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — USA he didn’t waste time in show how powerful that could be his roster in it next World Baseball Classic.
The Americans needed just three batters to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning of their exhibition game Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants.
Bobby Witt Jr. singled and Bryce Harper doubled. Three-time American League MVP Aaron Judge then drove in two runs with a single.
The United States won by a 15-1 defeat with a 19-hit performance in the 10-inning duel. Roman Anthony hit a two-run homer, Alex Bregman added a solo homer and Gunnar Henderson had a two-run double.
“We have a great group of guys. Bobby Witt Jr. starting it up front, being the one who sets the table there for us,” Harper said. “Obviously, from one to nine we have a pretty good dynamic. We just have to continue to be good.”
Paul Skenes, winner of the National League Cy Young Award, had a solid outing, allowing one run and one hit over three innings, in which he struck out four.
The right-hander allowed a double by Willy Adames in the first at-bat of the inning. The Dominican later scored on a groundout.
The 23-year-old pitcher retired his last nine opponents.
“It’s a preseason training game, but it’s still surreal,” Skenes said. “It’s going to be exciting when we get to Houston and it’s for real.”
Left-hander Matthew Boyd relieved Skenes and struck out four in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. David Bednar, Mason Miller, Griffin Jax and Gabe Speier each pitched one scoreless inning.
The Americans seek to win their second title of the World Baseball Classic 2026 and the first since 2017. The manager Mark DeRosa He said he was delighted that all the starters stayed in the dugout long after they had left the game, chatting with their temporary teammates.
“You look across the dugout and you see Bregman talking to Roman Anthony, you see (Tarik) Skubal and Skenes on the top step, you see Judge and (Cal) Raleigh talking,” DeRosa said. “That’s what I wanted to create, what the coaching staff wanted to create: an environment where these guys didn’t want to leave.”
Bregman — who lives in the Phoenix area — invited several colleagues from the United States to dinner Monday night. Said the swimmer Michael Phelpswinner of 23 Olympic gold medals for the United States, spoke to the group to motivate them.
“He just shared what is needed. Control the controllable and focus on it,” Bregman said.
The United States will play one more exhibition game in Arizona against the Colorado Rockies this Wednesday, a day before traveling to Houston to prepare for the group stage.
Giants ace Logan Webb will start the first game against Brazil on Friday. American League Cy Young winner the past two seasons, Tarik Skubal, is expected to start Saturday against Great Britainfollowed by Skenes against Mexico on Monday.
New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is tentatively scheduled to start Tuesday in the final group stage game against Italyalthough he is dealing with vertigo symptoms and hopes to join the United States in Houston. DeRosa said after Tuesday’s showing that McLean’s health was improving.
Skubal is expected to make just one start for the United States before rejoining the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of the preseason.
