USA 15, Brazil 5 (FINAL): How U.S. Improved to 1–0 in World Baseball Classic

Follow along with Sports Illustrated as the U.S. begins its 2026 World Baseball Classic journey on Friday night.

Turang smacked a bases-clearing double to blow the game open in the fifth inning. | Houston Astros/Getty Images

Team USA took case of business Friday night.

Three years after the United States came one Mike Trout swing short of a 2023 World Baseball Classic title, the U.S. began its 2026 World Baseball Classic campaign with a 15–5 win over Brazil at Daikin Park.

Although the win was really never in doubt, Brazil did hang tough for most of the night. Lucas Ramirez—the son of former MLB All-Star Manny Ramirez—homered twice to keep Brazil within reach; it was an 8–5 game heading into the ninth inning. But that’s when the U.S. finally broke things open.

Team USA scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning off three hits, five walks and a balk to finally put away Brazil for good.

Here are three things we learned from Team USA’s 15–5 win over Brazil:

Brice Turang delivers for Team USA

In a lineup featuring the likes of Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh and Bryce Harper, Team USA should’nt have to rely on a guy with a career 93 OPS+ for offense, but that’s what happened early Friday night. Brewers infielder Brice Turang had the biggest night at the dish Friday in Houston. He cleared the bases with a three-run double in the fifth inning, and he singled, stole a base and came around to score in the ninth.

Brice Turang clears the bases for Team USA 😮‍💨 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/PaAoIn9Rh7

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 7, 2026

Turang ended the night 3-for-6 with a team-high four RBIs and one run scored.

Where’s the clutch hitting?

At one point in the eighth inning, the U.S. was 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position. When it was all said and done, Team USA went 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base Friday night.

That’ll work for a matchup against Brazil, but for an opponent like Japan? No way. The U.S. needs to be more opportunistic if it wants to capture its first WBC title since 2017.

Youth shines for Brazil

Brazil sent a pair of 17-year-old pitchers out to the mound to face Judge and the other Team USA stars.

Joseph Contreras, the son of former MLB pitcher Jose Contreras, did well—getting Aaron Judge to ground into an inning-ending double play in the second. But the U.S. tagged fellow teenager Vitor Takahashi for two earned runs on one hit and two walks (and a balk) in 2/3 of an inning.

The aforementioned Ramirez, who is 20 years old, was Brazil’s only hitter to notch multiple hits—solo homers in the first and eighth innings.

VERDUCCI: The World Baseball Classic Is a Joyful Time Capsule to the Sport’s Past

Check out Sports Illustrated’s live blog from the game:

USA vs. Brazil: Live blog from World Baseball Classic matchup

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