TUCSON, Ariz. – Colombia’s march toward the 2026 World Baseball Classic continued with a commanding 8-1 victory over China on the second day of the 2025 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers at Kino Sports Complex at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The South American squad controlled the game from the start, securing its second consecutive win in the tournament.
China dropped to 0-2 in the tournament, while Colombia improved to 2-0, now just one win away from securing a spot in next year’s event.
The South American squad, ranked No. 13 in the World Baseball Rankings by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, continued its impressive form after opening the tournament with a 5-0 win against Brazil. China, ranked No. 20, struggled offensively against Colombia’s pitching staff, managing only one unearned run.
This marked the first time Colombia and China faced off in an international senior event.
Colombia manager José Mosquera started Rio Gomez for 3.1 innings before turning it over to relievers Victor Vargas, Jean Herrera, David Lordouy, and Carlos Ocampo. In all, they combined for nine innings, allowing three hits, no earned runs, three walks, and 11 strikeouts.
“Slider and two-seam were the best tonight and still tuning up to take it out as spring training during my outing,” Gomez said during the postgame.
Colombia struck first in the second inning when second baseman Michael Arroyo cracked a two-out, two-run double to center, scoring Dilson Herrera and Francisco Acuna to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Brayan Buelvas led off with a fly ball triple to center field.
Jesus Marriaga followed, punishing a 74.6 mph curveball over the left-center field wall for a two-run, 426-feet shot. 5-1 lead.
Marriaga’s hot hitting continued in the fifth, lacing a two-run single to score Reynaldo Rodriguez and Gio Urshela and mark out a 7-1 lead.
“Marriaga being 25 years old and managing him in a lot of tournaments prior, he can play one of the best positions in the outfield, and I’m excited that he had a really good night today,” Mosquera said during the post game.
Colombia added its final run in the seventh when Buelvas crossed home on a passed ball during Ramirez’s at-bat, making it an 8-1 game.
Ocampo took the mound in the bottom of the ninth for his second inning of relief and sealed Colombia’s victory, inducing a 4-6-3 double play from China’s designated hitter Jiaji Chen to end the game. With the win, Colombia is now on the brink of securing its third consecutive berth in the WBC.
China’s pitching, under manager Wei Lei, saw starter Haizheng Wu followed by Jian Yi, Lun Zhao, Wei Zhao, Jie Zhou, and Dancaireng Hua. The staff combined for nine innings, allowing 11 hits, eight earned runs, seven walks, and three strikeouts in Monday’s loss.
With China now 0-2, bouncing back against Brazil on Tuesday afternoon will be a tough task, especially with Lei having already used 12 pitchers over 16.2 innings through two games.
China’s pitching staff surrendered eight hits, nine earned runs, 10 walks, and eight strikeouts in its 12-2 mercy-rule loss to Germany on March 2.
Colombia’s dominant pitching has been a key factor in the 2025 WBCQ. Starting pitcher Julio Teheran was stellar in Sunday’s win against Brazil, allowing just one hit over six innings, walking none, striking out four, and throwing 41 of 54 pitches for strikes.
Colombia’s bullpen was equally strong Sunday night, as relievers Ezequiel Zabaleta, Revier Sanmartin, and Pedro Garcia combined for three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out five.
Earlier on March 3, Gomez signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan, according to CPBLStats.com. Gomez played for the Wei Chuan Dragons last season, posting a 5-3 record with a 1.17 ERA over 63 appearances and two starts. He logged 92.1 innings, allowing 58 hits, 12 earned runs, two home runs, 14 walks, and 94 strikeouts while maintaining a 0.780 WHIP.
China will play (1-1) Brazil at 1 p.m. EST at Veterans Memorial Stadium on March 4 and Colombia will go up against Germany (1-1) at 8 p.m. EST on the final day of the scheduled pool games for the 2025 WBCQ.
The second and third place game will be at 8 p.m. EST on March 6.
All WBC Qualifier games will stream live on the World Baseball Classic website, as well as on its Facebook page, MLB.TV, and YouTube channel, with coverage running through the final out of the second qualifier in Tucson, Ariz., on March 6.
2026 World Baseball Classic Information
The United States, Italy, Mexico, Great Britain and a Qualifier nation will compete at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas from March 6-11 in Pool B.
Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, and a Qualifier nation will compete in San Juan, Puerto Rico at Hiram Bithorn Stadium from March 6-11 in Pool A.
Japan, Australia, South Korea, Czech Republic, and a Qualifier nation will compete at the Tokyo Dome from March 5-10 in Pool C.
Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Netherlands, Israel, and a Qualifier nation will compete at loanDepot Park in Miami in Pool D from March 6-11.
The Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC will feature the Pool A runner-up facing the Pool B winner on March 13, while the Pool B runner-up will face the Pool A winner on March 14 at Daikin Park.
The other side of the Quarterfinals will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner on March 14 at loanDepot Park.
The 2026 WBC semifinals will be held on March 15 and 16 at loanDepot Park, with the championship game taking place on March 17.
2025 WBC Qualifiers Schedule – Veterans Memorial Stadium
All Game Start Times Are Listed Eastern Standard Time
March 4, 2025
China vs. Brazil – 1 p.m. EST
Germany vs. Colombia – 8 p.m. EST
March 6, 2025 – Qualifier Game
2nd Place Team vs. 3rd Place Team – 8 p.m. EST
In case of a tie, World Baseball Classic Inc. will use head-to-head results and other tiebreaker rules to determine advancement.
