PHOENIX, Mar. 12 \u2014 A 4-for-4 game by Tyler O\u2019Neill, who also walked twice and scored four runs, led the way for Team Canada to blitz Team Great Britain, 18\u20138, in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic on Sunday afternoon. Jacob Robson<\/a><\/strong> also went 4-for-4 for Canada with a walk and three runs scored in the rout. The 26 combined runs by the teams set a new WBC record.<\/p>\n Great Britain started strong in the top of the first. A leadoff walk by right fielder Chavez Young<\/a><\/strong> got the ball rolling. After he stole second, a grounder to second by center fielder Trayce Thompson<\/a><\/strong> moved Young to third. After a Matt Koperniak<\/a><\/strong> walk and Harry Ford<\/a><\/strong> strikeout put runners on the corners, first baseman Nick Ward<\/a><\/strong> dug in. Koperniak broke for second on a double steal attempt. On the throw, Young bolted for home. The throw to second was in the dirt, causing a bobble, and everyone was safe. Ward ultimately singled, scoring Koperniak to make the score 2\u20130. Two batters later, a single to center by shortstop Darnell Sweeney<\/a><\/strong> made the score 3\u20130.<\/p>\n Canada responded in the bottom of the first in resounding fashion off right-hander Akeel Morris<\/a><\/strong>. Second baseman Edouard Julien<\/a><\/strong> sent the first pitch into the right-field seats, cutting the deficit to 3\u20131. A walk by first baseman Freddie Freeman<\/a><\/strong> and single to left by center fielder Tyler O\u2019Neill, followed by a strikeout by designated hitter Jared Young<\/a><\/strong>, brought up shortstop Otto Lopez<\/a><\/strong> with one out. His single to left loaded the bases for third baseman Abraham Toro<\/a><\/strong>. He hit a grounder to first, where Ward stepped on the bag for the second out and fired home. The throw was low and wide, allowing both Freeman and O\u2019Neill to score. A walk by catcher Bo Naylor<\/a><\/strong> and single to right by right fielder Owen Caissie<\/a><\/strong> scored Lopez to give Canada a 4\u20133 lead.<\/p>\n With runners now on the corners and two out, Great Britain manager Drew Spencer<\/a><\/strong> brought in Cam Opp<\/a><\/strong> to relieve Morris. An infield single by left fielder Jacob Robson plated Naylor, making the score 5\u20133 as Julien came to bat for the second time in the inning. He walked, loading the bases again, but a grounder to second by Freeman ended the inning with no further scoring.<\/p>\n Team Great Britain narrowed the gap to 5\u20134 in the top of the second. Once again, Young led off with a walk and stole second. He scored when Thompson followed with a single to center. In the bottom half, O\u2019Neill and Young led off the frame with consecutive walks. Lopez grounded into a 6\u20133 double play, advancing O\u2019Neill to third. Toro brought O\u2019Neill in with a double to left, making the score 6\u20134.<\/p>\n Great Britain made the score 6\u20135 in the top of the third on a pair of doubles, first by B.J. Murray<\/a><\/strong> and second by pinch-hitter D\u2019Shawn Knowles. Canada got the run right back on a leadoff homer in the bottom of the third by Caissie. Robson bunted his way on, and stole second before Julien walked. A single to center by Freeman loaded the bases for O\u2019Neill, who cleared them with a three-run double. This made the score 10\u20135.<\/p>\n Great Britain fought back once again in the top of the fourth. After Young singled, Thompson walked. Two batters later, catcher Harry Ford smashed a home run to left-center, making the score 10\u20138. In the bottom half, Canada led off with a grounder to third. The next eight batters all reached \u2014 double by Robson; walk by Julien; RBI single to right by Freeman that scored Robson and advanced Julien to third; RBI single to right by O\u2019Neill, scoring Julien; walk by Young; infield single by Lopez to load the bases; bases-loaded walks by Toro and Naylor. When the dust settled, Canada held a 16\u20138 lead.<\/p>\n Canada made it a 17\u20138 game in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a one-out single by O\u2019Neill, two wild pitches, a walk, and a fielder\u2019s choice force play. It became an 18\u20138 game in the bottom of the sixth after a leadoff single by Robson. A walk, a fielder\u2019s choice force at second, another walk, and a fielder\u2019s choice grounder \u2014 with the relay for a double play thrown wide of first \u2014 brought in the final run. With the mercy rule \u2014 10-run lead after seven defensive innings \u2014 in effect, all Canada needed to do to end the game was pitch a scoreless seventh. Matt Brash<\/a><\/strong> rose to the challenge, striking out the side in 1\u20132\u20133 fashion to slam the door.<\/p>\nCanada Takes Lead, Great Britain Inches Closer<\/h3>\n
More Seesaw Action<\/h3>\n
Mercy Rule Kicks In<\/h3>\n
Postgame Reflections<\/h3>\n