Phoenix. Team USA came from behind to score 7 runs in the last 2 at bats and won (9-4) the match with Canada, thus qualifying as the number 1 seed in the poule D of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
“The competition in this poule has been ferocious” commented Team USA manager Joe Torre “We are just happy we could make it to the second round”.
Team Canada’s manager Ernie Whitt said he was happy with his players: “I cannot say I am happy with the result. We came here to make it to the second round, but we did not succeed. Still, I believe we played good baseball”.
Canada scored first against Team USA left hander Derek Holland and entered the ninth with a 1 run lead and with Henderson, Mathieson and Axford (the top reliever’s on Whitt’s roster) ready to go.
“It’s the way you want to get to the end of the game” commented Whitt “But they put on some real good swings. You have to tip your hat to them.
Team USA had a couple of tie breaking big hits: Adam Jones sent a rocket in the gap between center and right to put his team ahead against Henderson and Hosmer cleared the bases with another double in the ninth. Furthermore, in the bottom of the eigth a diving catch by USA second baseman Phillips prevented a new tie.
“I am honored” said poule MVP Michael Saunders “But when you are representing a country, what you do is not so important, if you don’t win”.
Saunders spoke of the WBC in general: “This is great, it’s the best players in the world and Canada is here to stay. I believe this tournament proves how much baseball evolved and no, I do not think there’s another time of the year to play the World Baseball Classic“.
