Team USA kicked off its 2023 World Baseball Classic Saturday when it took on Great Britain in the first game of pool C play. While Great Britain got off to a good start early, the United States found a way to take control of the game and pick up an opening 6-2 victory at Chase Field in Phoenix.

Adam Wainwright got the start for the USA and allowed Great Britain to get on the board in the first when Trayce Thompson hit a solo shot to left-center on Wainwright’s fifth pitch of the game.

While Team USA wasted some scoring chances in the first two innings, they found a way to break through in the bottom of the third against former Syracuse Met Vance Worley (2 2/3 innings, 2 runs, 3 hits, 3 walks, 1 K, 32 of 60 pitches for strikes).

After Paul Goldschmidt reached on a throwing error and made it to second on a wild pitch, Nolan Arenado drove in his Cardinals teammate with a double down the left field line. Three batters later, Kyle Tucker drove in Arenado with a base hit to center to give the USA the lead, 2-1.

One inning later, USA threatened to score more. Mike Trout drew a walk and Goldschmidt was hit by a pitch. Later in the frame, Kyle Schwarber crushed a three-run home run to right center against Ryan Long to increase the lead to 5-1.

Those runs would be all that Wainwright and the USA pitching staff would need. Wainwright went four innings, allowed one run on five hits, walked one, and struck out four on 49 pitches (36 strikes).

The star of the game for Team USA was Arenado, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs. The third baseman is one of the few returnees from 2017 when he did not have the best tournament (.161, 1 HR, 3 RBIs, 11 K’s in 31 at-bats), so it’s good to see him get off to a strong start.

Once Wainwright left the game, the bullpen was able to prevent Great Britain from making a comeback. Jason Adam threw a 1-2-3 fifth inning, Kyle Freeland (who got the win) allowed one run on two hits over three innings (23 of 29 pitches for strikes), and David Bednar allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth to finish the game.

As for the Mets players, Jeff McNeil got the start at second base and hit ninth in the order. McNeil went 0-for-4 with a ground out in the second, a fly out in the third, a line out in the fifth, and a ground out in the seventh as he was the only starter to not reach base.

Next Game

Team USA is back in action tomorrow night when it takes on Team Mexico (10 p.m ET, FS1). Mexico will be in almost a must-win situation after their 5-4 loss to Colombia in 10 innings. Patrick Sandoval (Angels) will start for Mexico against Nick Martinez (Padres) for USA. Pete Alonso is 0-for-2 against the southpaw with a walk and a strikeout while McNeil is 3-for-3.