Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Brice Turang had three hits and four RBIs to lead the United States to a 15-5 win over Brazil in their World Baseball Classic opener on Friday night.
Lucas Ramirez, son of 12-time All-Star Manny Ramirez, homered twice for Brazil. At 20 years and 49 days, he became the youngest player in WBC history with a multi-homer game. Brazil, competing in the WBC for only the second time, fell to 0-4 all-time in the tournament.
Another highlight for Brazil came when 17-year-old Joseph Contreras, the youngest player in this year's WBC, induced Judge to ground into a bases-loaded double play. Contreras is the son of former MLB pitcher José Contreras.
The Americans walked 17 times and forced Brazil to throw 221 pitches. Bryce Harper's RBI single sparked a seven-run ninth inning as the US pulled away.
In other Group A action, Willi Castro hit an RBI double in a five-run fifth inning, leading Puerto Rico to a win over Colombia. Edwin Díaz worked the ninth for Puerto Rico, striking out the side.
Mexico defeated Britain 8-1 in Pool B, with Jonathan Aranda hitting a three-run homer in the eighth. Britain's Jack Anderson started, allowing two hits and one run with three strikeouts in three innings.
