The US team bounced back from a huge loss to the Dominican Republic team 7-5. The US team put up some big offense on Sunday night to dismantle Team Canada 8-0. The game didn’t provide too much drama being well in hand for the American team by the second inning. This will put the US team at 2-1 in pool play. The US team failed to even reach the finals in the last three previous World Baseball Classics. Team America needed to get this game to avoid a tie with Columbia. Canada went 0-3 in the tournament. “Relieved,’’ USA manager Jim Leyland said to USA Today.
“Obviously there was a little less excitement here than there was [Saturday] night, but still the players were excited.’’
American bats wake up
The Americans had some big home runs in this affair. Nolan Arenado and Buster Posey both drove in three runs apiece to help the US team get into the second round in the World Baseball Classic. We also had a good showing from Eric Hosmer, who hit a two-run double in the first inning to start the plethora of runs in this game. Buster Posey scored another run with a ground out in the first. Adam Jones and Christian Yelich both joined in the fun, hitting singles in the second inning before Arenado homered, making it 6-0. This was the first home run for the US team in the Tournament.
Buster Posey was next with a solo home run in the seventh.
American pitching is back on track
After the bullpen lost the game against the Dominican Republic, this game saw a different outcome. Danny Duffy started out the game and is the third consecutive US starter to not let up a run. He struck out seven in four innings, and only had two base runners all day.
The only baserunners were Jonathan Malo and Peter Orr on two singles in the third inning. Then the US teams' relievers came in and had themselves a day too. They combined for five more shutout innings. They hadn't put together good innings before this game, giving up nine runs in nine and a third innings. Tyler Clippard threw fire, sitting down all six batters he faced, striking out four.
