The Associated Press The United States' Paul Skenes walks to the dugout after pitching in the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic game against Mexico, Monday.

HOUSTON — Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Roman Anthony added a three-run blast in a big third inning to lead the United States to a 5-3 win over Mexico in the World Baseball Classic at Houston’s Daikin Park on Monday night.

The U.S. improved to 3-0 and will meet Italy (2-0) tonight, seeking to secure a spot in the quarterfinals in Houston this weekend.

Jarren Duran homered twice for Mexico (2-1), which will face Italy Wednesday night in the last game of Group B play.

The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 41,628 that was decidedly pro-Mexico.

Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates allowed one hit and struck out seven in four innings as the U.S. avenged an 11-5 loss to Mexico in the 2023 WBC.

The U.S. led by three entering the eighth inning before Duran took Matthew Boyd deep for his second homer. Boyd then hit Randy Arozarena on the arm with a pitch before striking out Jonathan Aranda.

Griffin Jax took over and induced a double-play grounder from Alejandro Kirk to end the inning.

Bryce Harper singled on a ball that hit reliever Jesus Cruz on the leg with no outs in the third inning. Judge followed with his drive to right field to put the Americans up 2-0 and give him two home runs in the tournament.

Kyle Schwarber singled and Cal Raleigh was hit by a pitch with one out before Anthony’s homer to right-center pushed the lead to 5-0.

Duran homered for a second straight game with his solo shot off Boyd that cut the lead to 5-1 with one out in the sixth. There were two on and two outs when Joey Meneses singled in a run to make it 5-2.

Skubal done

HOUSTON — Tarik Skubal will not pitch again in the World Baseball Classic, according to U.S. manager Mark DeRosa.

DeRosa made the announcement came before Monday night’s game against Mexico and after the reigning two-time AL Cy Young Award winner had expressed second thoughts about ending his tournament participation following one outing.

“We were always under the assumption that he was going to leave after pool play,” DeRosa said.

Last month, Skubal said he intended to make only one WBC start regardless of how far the U.S. advanced because he wanted to remain on a regular spring training regimen and ramp up for opening day while mostly with Detroit.

Skubal is eligible to become a free agent after this season and is expected to secure a nine-figure contract.

“I also understand that 99.9% of the guys, if given his ability to get to free agency and just generational wealth on the table and everything he’s got in front of him, a chance to win three Cy Youngs in a row, I was proud that he even showed for us,” DeRosa continued.

Skubal gave up a home run to Nate Eaton on his first pitch Saturday night but allowed just one single after that while striking out five in three innings of a 9-1 victory.

Tatis goes off

MIAMI — Fernando Tatis hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, and the Dominican Republic clinched a spot in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals with a 10-1 win over Israel on Monday.

Tatis homered in the second inning on a 78.5 mph changeup off loser Ryan Prager, standing at home plate and admiring his no-doubt drive over the left-field wall, then added a two-run single in the seventh.

Oneil Cruz added a solo homer in the fourth off Zack Weiss for the winners.

Spencer Horwitz drove in Israel’s run with a fourth-inning homer against winner Bryan Bello.