Appointed U.S. captain for next year’s World Baseball Classic, Aaron Judge will be playing for more than himself and his teammates.

“It’s something special getting a chance to represent our country,” the New York Yankees star said after manager Mark DeRosa’s announcement Monday. “Just thinking about all the brave men and women that have fought for this country and laid their lives down for us to get a chance to go out here, and especially me, to get a change to go out here and play a game, it’s a pretty humbling experience.”

DeRosa announced the appointment of the two-time American League Most Valuable Player four days after he was named U.S. manager for the second straight WBC.

Judge takes over from the Angels’ Mike Trout, the U.S. captain at the 2023 tournament. The U.S. lost the 2023 championship game to Japan 3-2.

Pirates 10, Nationals 3 >> Paul Skenes bounced back from the worst start of his career and teamed up with catcher Henry Davis to make a little history as Pittsburgh routed visiting Washington.

Skenes and Davis became the first pitcher/catcher battery in Major League history comprised of players selected first overall in the draft. Skenes (2-1), the top pick in 2023, allowed two runs, one earned, while striking out six in six innings as the Pirates ended a three-game losing streak.

Davis was taken first in 2021.

Skenes gave up a career-worst five runs in a loss to St. Louis last week.

Enmanuel Valdez and Ke’Bryan Hayes both drove in three runs.

Yankees 4, Royals 1 >> Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Austin Wells each hit a solo home run off Seth Lugo in the fifth inning, and New York beat Kansas City at Yankee Stadium.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. tied the score in the fourth with his sixth homer, an inning after Bobby Witt Jr.’s home run against Carlos Carrasco (2-1) put Kansas City ahead.

Carrasco, who gave up one hit in five innings, and four relievers combined on a two-hitter.

Rays 16, Red Sox 1 >> Rookie Kameron Misner homered twice and drove in three runs, Shane Baz threw six strong innings, and Tampa Bay blasted visiting Boston.

Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero also homered and each drove in a pair for the Rays.

Baz (2-0) allowed two hits, one earned run and no walks with a career-high 11 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay tagged Tanner Houck (0-2) for 10 hits and 12 runs, 11 earned, in 2 1/3 innings.

Tigers 9, Brewers 1 >> Tarik Skubal struck out nine while allowing four hits and no walks in seven shutout innings as Detroit won at Milwaukee.

Kerry Carpenter homered and Gleyber Torres drove in three runs and scored twice.

Braves 8, Blue Jays 4 >> Austin Riley had two home runs and five RBIs, Sean Murphy also connected and Atlanta defeated Toronto for its second road win of the season.

Braves right-hander Grant Holmes didn’t allow a hit until Myles Straw homered to begin the bottom of the sixth.

Holmes (1-1) pitched a career-best 7 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and two hits.