Angels star Mike Trout hit a three-run homer, Lance Lynn threw five impressive innings and Team USA used a nine-run first inning to cruise past Canada, 12-1, on Monday night in a World Baseball Classic game in Phoenix.
The game was called after seven innings because of the tournament’s 10-run mercy rule.
The United States improved to 2-1 and bounced back from an 11-5 loss to Mexico on Sunday with its best offensive performance of the tournament in what amounted to a near-must-win for the Americans. Canada fell to 1-1 before a crowd of 29,621 at Chase Field.
The Americans sent 12 batters to the plate in the first inning. Nolan Arenado (El Toro High) had a two-run double to start the scoring and Trout finished it by belting a low fastball into the seats beyond left-center field.
Big fly for @MikeTrout to cap off a nine-run first for Team USA! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/RjioUh8EnX
— MLB (@MLB) March 14, 2023
Trea Turner added a solo home run in the second to cap the scoring for Team USA.
Lynn got the win, giving up one run and two hits while saving the bullpen for the team’s final game of pool play against Colombia on Wednesday. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa had to use eight pitchers on Sunday in the loss to Mexico.
Canada scored its lone run on Jared Young’s homer. Left-hander Mitch Bratt took the loss, giving up six earned runs while getting only one out.
Team USA is piling it on! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/n3o1wzMxYD
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 14, 2023
The WBC mercy rule is in effect for the first round only, and games are terminated when there’s a 15-run lead after five innings or a 10-run lead after seven innings. Also, the pool-play tiebreaker is based on runs allowed, so running up the score is beneficial.
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