Team USA won its first World Baseball Classic pool game against Brazil. That was no surprise. This is a stacked team, top to bottom, and it should have no problem cruising all the way to the final, gold medal game.

Brazil isn’t known as a baseball powerhouse. In fact, there have been exactly five Brazilian-born players to play in the major leagues, starting with Yan Gomes in 2012.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t a few noteworthy moments in last night’s game. Like when a seventeen-year-old pitcher who is still in high school had the scare and the thrill of his life at the same time. Brazil’s Joseph Contreras had walked Bryce Harper to load the bases with one out and now was facing the most feared hitter in baseball: Aaron Judge. If you recall, Judge has won two consecutive A.L. M.V.P. awards. He had hit a home run in his previous at-bat.

This was about as big of a mismatch as could be. Three pitches later, he coaxed a weak groundball double play. Joseph Contreras, whose father José pitched eleven seasons in the major leagues, might not ever get another time in the spotlight. But for that one moment, he bested the best. 

Team USA went on to score seven ninth-inning runs to put the game away 15-5. Milwaukee’s Bryce Turang, batting ninth, went three-for-six, knocking in four runs. Boston’s Roman Anthony went two-for four, driving in two. But Team USA got  offense up and down the lineup, aided by seventeen walks. 

As Rangers fans can attest pretty much for the entirely of the team’s time in Texas, it’s hard to win when you don’t have pitchers who can get the ball over the plate.

But for that one at-bat, that one night, that one time, Joseph Contreras ruled Aaron Judge. 

And that’s what makes tournaments like this special. It’s something that seventeen-year-old will never forget. 

*****

Texas versus San Francisco, 2:05