Toronto witnessed a fantastic turn around in the World Baseball Classic series where Team USA rode their three home runs to hold Canada for a 6 – 5 win. The Canadian fans vastly outnumbered the Americans but the scenes they saw were of a solid performance by the American Bullpen and some great offense, especially by Brian McCann, the catcher for Team USA.
McCann was one of the stars of the night as he hit 3 RBIs that included a two-run home run off Mike Johnson in the fourth inning of a game that most players described as having a post-season atmosphere. McCann’s two-run home run gave Team USA the “go ahead” run and after that point, the Canadians were struggling to catch up.
“I went up there looking for something to hit, and luckily, I got something in the inner half, and I didn’t miss it,” said McCann, the team’s No. 8 hitter. “I’ll hit 12th in this lineup. I mean, it’s an unbelievable lineup, just a great team to be part of.”
Kevin Youkilis, first baseman for Team USA had the other home run, a solo hit, again in the fourth inning to account for one of his three runs in the day. But Team Canada fought back and pulled themselves to inches from the touching line after Team USA relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan gave away a wild pitch and a run in the top of the sixth. It was right-fielder Adam Dunn who had a 2-run hit to right-center field that stunned the crowd into silence.
“I’ve never been to the playoffs, but I imagine that this was a playoff atmosphere,” said Dunn. “The crowd was electric. It was how baseball should be played. It was so much fun. If this is like the playoffs, then I have to be in the playoffs. This is incredible.”
Jake Peavy, starting pitcher for Team USA gave away two runs off two hits as well as three walks and was struggling to get his rhythm as he lumbered through his 3-innings in 58 pitches. Joey Votto hammered a long hit over right field in the third inning to put the Canadians up at 2-1.
Towards the end, 6 relief pitchers came out for Team USA to block the Canadians to just 5 hits in the last 6 innings. “In the ninth inning, if your blood wasn’t boiling and your heart wasn’t pounding, you don’t have a heartbeat,” said Dunn. “For me, this is the best experience I have ever had in baseball, and we’ve played only one game.”
“I tell you, it was a heck of a ballgame,” Johnson said. “This time of year, you know, everybody is not at their best, and I thought everybody played a heck of a ballgame.
“The hitting was there. The pitching was almost there, just a heck of a ballgame.”
Team USA manager, Davey Johnson told the media that it was something on the lines of revenge that his had deserved to get.
“Well, we owed them a little payback,” said he.
While the Canadians will be looking forward to their game against the Italians, Team USA will look at Venezuela for their next games in the World Baseball Classics.