Latest on Mets in World Baseball Classic: Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil help USA reach Championship Game

Team USA infielder Pete Alonso (20) at the plate against Team Mexico at Chase Field
Team USA infielder Pete Alonso (20) at the plate against Team Mexico at Chase Field / Zachary BonDurant - USA TODAY Sports

Here are the latest updates on current and former Mets who are playing in the World Baseball Classic...

March 19, 10:58 p.m.

Team USA took care of Team Cuba rather easily on Sunday night, winning 14-2 to advance to the WBC Championship Game.

Pete Alonso, who batted seventh and served as the DH, went 1-for-4 with a run-scoring single and also scored a run. Fellow Met Jeff McNeil pinch-hit for Tim Anderson in the fifth inning before taking over at second base. McNeil walked in his two plate appearances and came around to score both times. He also played right field.

Adam Wainwright got the win after pitching 4.0 innings and allowing one run on five hits, one walk and striking out one. Miles Mikolas then tossed 4.0 innings of one-run ball before giving way to Aaron Loup who pitched a clean ninth inning.

Offensively, Team USA got contributions up and down the lineup, most notably from Mookie Betts (3-for-6, two runs), Paul Goldschmidt (2-for-5, HR, four RBI, two runs, walk) and Trea Turner (3-for-5, two HR, four RBI, two runs).

Team USA awaits the winner of Team Mexico vs. Team Japan.

March 18, 11:00 p.m.

The United States beat Venezuela, 9-7, in an absolute thriller on Saturday night.

The US jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but Venezuela quickly rallied back for two runs of their own on a Luis Arraez homer.

The United States increased their lead over the next few innings, but Rockies right-hander Daniel Bard struggled in the bottom of the fifth, and suddenly they found themselves trailing 6-5.

That is until Trea Turner came to bat with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth. The star shortstop crushed a go-ahead grand slam, putting the United States back in front for good.

Astros closer Ryan Pressley came on in the ninth and closed the door for the thrilling win.

For the Mets, Adam Ottavino threw a scoreless inning in relief and Pete Alonso came off the bench with with a base hit to help start USA’s rally in the eighth.

Eduardo Escobar came on as a pinch-hitter for Venezuela in the ninth, but he grounded out in his only at-bat. The infielder will rejoin Mets camp in the next few days.

The United States, on the other hand, will take on Cuba on Sunday night in the Semifinals at 7:10 p.m.

March 17, 11:20 p.m.

Mexico beat Puerto Rico, 5-4, in the WBC quarterfinals on Friday night.

Puerto Rico got out to a 4-0 lead thanks to two first inning home runs, including a two-run blast from former Met Javier Baez.

Former Met Marcus Stroman got the start for Puerto Rico and allowed two runs on five hits, including a solo homer, with two strikeouts and a walk over 4.1 IP.

Francisco Lindor went 2-for-5 with two strikeouts in the loss.

Mexico will now take on Japan in the WBC semifinals on Monday at 7 p.m. at loanDepot Park in Miami.

March 15, 1:21 a.m.

Former Mets starter Taijuan Walker dominated for Mexico in their game against Great Britain on Tuesday. The 30-year-old gave up just one hit while walking one over four innings. He struck out eight batters before being pulled due to the WBC's pitch limit.

Walker's eight strikeouts are tied for fourth-most in a WBC game and most in Mexico's history in the tournament.

While Walker didn't pick up the win, his team did. Mexico beat Great Britain, 2-1. Mexico can advance to the WBC quarterfinals with a win over Canada on Thursday.

March 13, 10:11 p.m.

Francisco Lindor's bases-clearing triple and Edwin Diaz's 1-2-3 frame headlined Puerto Rico's dominant win over Israel, a pivotal Pool D result, as the WBC continued Monday at loanDepot Park in Miami.

Puerto Rico won 10-0 in eight innings, a mercy-rule victory that featured Diaz contributing to the WBC's first-ever perfect game.

Lindor's 2-for-3 evening -- which included a second-inning walk, fourth-inning single and one run scored -- was highlighted by his game-breaking triple in the bottom of the fifth.

With two outs and an 0-2 count, Lindor launched a breaking ball off the right-center field wall -- just missing a grand slam -- and extended Puerto Rico's lead to 9-0.

Before Puerto Rico ended the game on a mercy-rule walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, Diaz entered for the top of the seventh and was perfect.

Diaz handled Joc Pederson with a leadoff flyout to center field, struck out Zack Gelof looking and ended the frame on Matt Mervis' soft liner to second base.

Diaz threw seven strikes on 10 pitches while contributing to a historic combined perfect game that included the efforts of starter Jose De Leon (5.2 IP) and fellow relievers Yacksel Rios (0.1 IP) and Duane Underwood (1.0 IP).

Puerto Rico improved to 2-1 ahead of Wednesday's 7 p.m. game against the Dominican Republic.

March 13, 12:50 a.m.

Francisco Lindor, Eduardo Escobar and Omar Narváez were the three Mets in action during Sunday's Pool D game between Puerto Rico and Venezuela -- a 9-6 Venezuela win over Puerto Rico.

Lindor led off and started at short for Puerto Rico. The highlight of his 1-for-4 day offensively was a single through the right side that sparked a four-run sixth inning. Three batters later, Lindor scored and cut Puerto Rico's deficit to 9-3.

Escobar was on the winning team and started at third but had an 0-for-5 day at the plate while batting ninth.

Narváez replaced Salvador Perez at catcher for the final three innings, including a pinch-hit appearance in the seventh where he struck out to end the frame.

Puerto Rico faces Israel Monday at 7 p.m. Venezuela takes on Nicaragua Tuesday at noon.

March 12, 12:54 p.m.

Former Met Matt Harvey had another strong performance in the WBC for Team Italy, as he allowed just one run on two hits with three strikeouts over 4.0 IP in a 7-1 win over the Netherlands.

The victory created a five-way tie in Pool A, with all of the teams finishing 2-2, and advanced Italy to the second round of the tournament where Mets great and Team Italy manager Mike Piazza will take on Team Japan (4-0).

Harvey is now 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA over two starts in the WBC, as he's allowed just one run on four hits, including a home run, with one walk and three strikeouts in seven innings of work.

March 11, 4:50 p.m.

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor had himself a day for Team Puerto Rico's first WBC game this year. The infielder went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Lindor was the table-setter for his teammates as Puerto Rico beat Nicaragua, 9-1, on Saturday afternoon.

Former Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman held Nicaragua to two hits and one run over 4 2/3 innings. Stroman also struck out two.

Javier Baez, another former Met, went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run.

March 10, 1:16 a.m.

Former Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada had the big blow of the late Pool A games.

With Panama down 2-0 to Cuba, Tejada -- who hit just 10 home runs in seven season with the Mets -- launched a two-run shot to tie the game in the second inning. Through four innings, Tejada was 1-for-2 with that big fly.

In the same game, Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was not in the starting lineup in Cuba's third game after starting the last two.

March 9, 6:31 p.m.

A trio of Mets players took the stage for Team USA on Thursday as they defeated the Los Angeles Angels, 6-0, in an exhibition game.

The right side of the infield for New York was well represented as Pete Alonso got the start at first base and Jeff McNeil subbed in for Mookie Betts at second base in the fourth inning.

Batting sixth, Alonso went 1-for-4 with a strikeout while McNeil, who was batting second, went 0-for-3 including a pinch-hit strikeout. McNeil is now 0-for-6 with two Ks after getting the start at second base against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

The infielder did, however, make a nice play to his left and got the lead runner out at second base for the fielder's choice.

Brooks Raley came on in the sixth inning and pitched a 1-2-3 inning to help preserve the shutout.

March 9, 10:17 a.m.

During Team Italy's 6-3 win over Team Cuba, former Mets Matt Harvey and Yoenis Cespedes were front and center.

Harvey, who last pitched in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles in 2021, got the start and allowed two hits while twirling three scoreless innings.

He faced Cespedes in the second inning, getting him to ground out to second base.

With the game tied, 2-2, in the top of the 10th, Italy erupted for four runs and held on for a 6-3 victory.