All-Stars, MVPs, and Cy Young winners. Plenty of MLB’s best players will be taking the diamond and representing their countries at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. We’re following along with the top moments of each day.
Here was the recap of the action on Saturday, March 7:
JUMP TO: Shohei, Japan Get Tight Win | Two Historic Walk-Offs | Schwarber, USA Beat Britain | Italy Blanks Brazil | Naylor Bros. Boost Canada | Arreaz Leads Venezuela |
Ohtani, Suzuki Lead Japan In Win Over Korea
Shohei Ohtani homered for the second straight day and Seiya Suzuki went deep twice and defending champion Japan beat Korea 8-6 on Saturday night at Tokyo and improved to 2-0 at the World Baseball Classic.
Suzuki drove in four runs and Masataka Yoshida homered and had three RBIs for the Samurai Warriors, who overcame a 3-0, first-inning deficit.
Republic of Korea vs. Japan Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX
A day after hitting a grand slam in a 13-0 win over Taiwan, Ohtani hit a tying home run on a hanging curve from Young Pyo Ko in the third.
Suzuki hit a two-run homer in the second. Two batters after Ohtani’s drive, Suzuki chased Ko by homering for a 4-3 lead. Yoshida homered on reliever Byeong Hyeon Jo’s second pitch.
Two Walk-Off Homers! Albies Lift Dutch, Hernaiz Leads Puerto Rico
Never in WBC history had there been two walk-off home runs. Saturday’s slate saw two of them.
The first homer came when Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies hit a game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Netherlands over Nicaragua.
Jeter Downs hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth to put Nicaragua ahead 3-1. But the Netherlands answered in next frame, beginning its two-out rally on Ceddanne Rafaela’s single against reliever Angel Obando. Xander Bogaerts doubled, advancing Rafaela to third before Albies hit Obando’s first pitch over the wall in right.
Nicaragua vs. Netherlands Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX
Not to be outdone, Darell Hernaiz hit a 10th-inning solo shot to lead Puerto Rico to a 4-3 win over Panama in a walk-off. Puerto Rico tied the score at 3 in the bottom half of the extra frame when Carlos Cortes grounded into a run-scoring double play. Hernaiz drove a fastball off Severino González, dropping Panama to 0-2.
Panama vs. Puerto Rico Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX
Following those two epic homers, there have now been 11 walk-off wins in WBC history. The Dutch have four of those wins.
USA On A Roll After Beating Great Britain
Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer and Gunnar Henderson had four hits and two RBIs as the United States rolled to a 9-1 victory over Britain on Saturday night at the World Baseball Classic.
Great Britain vs. United States Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX
Team USA improved to 2-0 in Pool B at Houston, while Britain dropped to 0-2.
Nate Eaton homered on Tarik Skubal’s first pitch to give Britain a quick lead it held until the fifth inning. But his teammates couldn’t muster anything else at the plate.
Brazil Blanked As Italy Get Victory
Sam Aldegheri had a sterling outing on the mound for Italy in 8-0 win over Brazil.
Brazil vs. Italy Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX
Aldegheri is one of the few MLB players ever born in Italy, and the first Italian-born pitcher to reach the majors in nearly 80 years. The 24-year-old left-hander pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and collecting eight strikeouts.
Dante Nori homered twice late and Dominic Canzon added a three-run blast to help the Italians get the victory in Houston.
Naylor Bros. Help Canada Past Colombia
Owen Caissie hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the second off emergency starter Austin Bergner as Canada downed Colombia 8-2 in a game that included a run-saving defensive play by brothers Josh and Bo Naylor.
Colombia vs. Canada Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX
Colombia’s Michael Arroyo led off the game with a single off Michael Soroka, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Reynaldo Rodriguez grounded to first baseman Josh Naylor, who threw to brother Bo at the plate for the tag.
Phillippe Aumont, who last pitched in the major leagues in 2015, struck out Tito Polo for the final out.
Arraez’s 2 HRs Help Venezuela Ease Past Israel
Luis Arraez homered twice, doubled twice and drove in five runs as Venezuela beat Israel 11-3.
Israel vs. Venezuela Highlights ⚾️ World Baseball Classic on FOX
Arraez became the first player with a pair of multihomer games in his WBC career. Eugenio Suárez also went deep and Ezequiel Tovar had three hits for Venezuela, which improved to 2-0 in Pool D. It was Israel’s first game of the tournament.
Venezuela starter Enmanuel De Jesus struck out eight in five innings of one-run ball.
