Nolan Arenado. Photo via USA Today

After an embarrassing loss to Mexico on Sunday, Team USA (2-1) got their offense going early on Monday against Canada. Thanks in part to a nine-run opening inning, USA was able to defeat Canada 12-1 in seven innings to put themselves in a much better position to qualify for the quarterfinals.

While Team USA didn’t have the perfect game that Puerto Rico had earlier in the day against Israel, they were able to make some history of their own:

Team USA loaded the bases with no one out against starter Mitch Bratt to begin the bottom of the first. Then, Nolan Arenado ripped a two-run double to left field to get the scoring started.

Three batters later, after a Kyle Tucker sacrifice fly, J.T. Realmuto hit a base hit to center to extend the lead to 4-0. That ended Bratt’s night. The left-handed pitching prospect for the Rangers only got one out in the inning, allowed six runs on three hits, and walked three on 25 pitches (nine strikes).

Braves pitching prospect R.J. Freure entered the game for Canada. Cedric Mullins ended up driving in Trea Turner (RBI groundout) with a triple to right for the USA’s sixth run. The scoring finally ended when Mike Trout hit a three-run home run in his second at-bat of the inning.

Those were all the runs that Lance Lynn would need. While the right-hander did allow a solo home run to Jared Young to lead off the top of the second, he was able to give the USA bullpen a much-needed breather. The White Sox right-hander went five innings, allowed one run on two hits, and struck out six on 65 pitches (42 strikes).

The USA offense did not stop as they scored three more runs in the second on a Tim Anderson RBI triple, a Realmuto sacrifice fly, and a solo home run by Trea Turner, which gave Team USA the 12-1 advantage.

Miles Mikolas ended up getting the final six outs of the game to secure the victory. In the final two innings, the Cardinals right-hander allowed three hits and struck out two batters on 33 pitches (22 strikes).

With Mark DeRosa’s lineup changes, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil were not in the lineup on Monday. Alonso ended up pinch-hitting in the bottom of the sixth against Cade Smith (right-handed pitcher in the Guardians system) and struck out swinging. McNeil came into the game in left field in seventh, but never got an at-bat.

Anderson ended up getting the start at second base and Trout ended up getting a break from playing the field as he was the designated hitter. Paul Goldschmidt has played first base in each of the first three games. Every USA player had at least one hit except for Tucker.

Next Game

Team USA will finish up Pool C play on Wednesday night against Colombia (10 p.m ET, FS1). By then, they will know what they need to do to advance since they are the last game that will be played in the pool. Merrill Kelly will start for the USA at Chase Field in his home ballpark.

Colombia’s starter is yet to be announced since they still have to play Tuesday afternoon against Canada (3 p.m, FS2). They took their first loss of the tournament on Monday when they were defeated by Great Britain, 7-5, to give everybody at least one loss in Pool C.

The USA last played against Colombia in the 2017 WBC and ended up winning, 3-2, in 10 innings.