Brazil started with a win by defeating New Zealand in the qualifiers

PANAMA — Tim Lopes led a six-run seventh-inning rally as Brazil beat New Zealand 12-7 on Friday to open the 2023 World Baseball Classic qualifier.

Brazil, who stunned Panama in 2012, advanced to the first Clasico of 2013, scoring four runs in the first episode and two in the fourth. New Zealand scored four in the eighth over to bring the Oceania side closer to the board.

Lopes went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs for Brazil. For New Zealand, Max Brown went 4-2 with one run and three RBI. Gabriel Barbosa (1-0) took the win and Ben Thompson (0-1) took the loss. Argentina faced Pakistan in the evening.

Brazil, who won their first match, will face Nicaragua on Saturday. The winner of the clash between Argentina and Pakistan will be pitted against Panama on the same day. The competition runs until Wednesday and offers the last two tickets to the Clasico. Great Britain and the Czech Republic advanced in a recent tie in Germany.

Here is the full schedule for the qualifiers (schedules are subject to change):

Location: Panama City, Panama
Stadium: Rod Cave National Stadium
Countries: Panama, Nicaragua, Brazil, Argentina, Pakistan, New Zealand

Game 1: New Zealand vs. Brazil, 1 p.m

Game 2: Pakistan vs. Argentina, 8 p.m

Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Nicaragua, 1 p.m

Game 4: Game 2 winner vs. Panama, 8 p.m

Game 5: Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 3, 1 p.m.

Game 6: Loser of Game 1 vs. Game 4 Loser, 8 p.m.

Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 1 p.m.

Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.

Game 9: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 Loser, 8 p.m.