PHOENIX — Mark DeRosa didn’t leave Chase Field until 1am Monday morning, making calls and strategizing.
He couldn’t even fall asleep until 4:00 in the morning, trying to analyze what had happened in the ugly loss to Mexico.
Well, 24 hours later, the USA manager falls asleep like a baby.
Team USA will beat Canada 12-1 in seven innings on Monday night, and will need a win over smaller Colombia on Wednesday night to secure a ticket to Miami in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. is needed.
They are in complete control of their destiny and don’t have to worry about tiebreakers, randifferentials or run merchants.
Beat Columbia and they’re there.
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Things would have been different had Britain not shocked Colombia earlier in the day. This avoided the possibility that Team USA would have to beat Columbia by seven or more runs on Wednesday, but now all they have to do is win.
“We’re definitely in control,” said US captain Mike Trout. “Obviously, when England won first, it helped us a little. i knew after i lost [to Mexico], we had to win and see what happens. ”
They showed up on Monday feeling relaxed and confident, and were out in no time to let go of all their pent-up frustrations in Canada, while DeRosa was able to sit back and watch.
“We came in with a little confidence,” Trout said. The game started with a 3-run home run in the first inning. “In my opinion [the Mexico defeat] woke us up a little. The message for us was to go out and be yourself. ”
On this night, DeRosa didn’t have to watch his pitching staff implode in front of him, and with veteran starter Lance Lynn giving up just two hits in five innings, DeRosa had nothing to do about it. I could not do it.
“What Lance did tonight was huge,” DeRosa said. “It’s a big thing for us to reset the bullpen. It went perfectly.”
Miles Mikolas did not require relief pitchers to throw multiple innings, face multiple batters, or count pitches, requiring the use of only one relief pitcher.
DeRosa just sat back, watched his team put on a laser show and led 19-year-old Canadian starter Mitch Bratt 9-0 and didn’t look back.
“I think the first few games I was just trying to feel myself,” Trout said. “But today we joined only with the mindset of dominating.”
The game lasted just 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the mercy rule was applied in the 7th inning.
It was exactly like DeRosa scripted the game, really.
“It starts on the mound,” DeRosa said before the game. “It always does. It sets the tone. We just want to be the first top with the potential for this attack to explode. I think they’re ready. It’s true.”
Lynn pitched a 1-2-3 first inning and the lineup responded with: a single, a walk, a walk, a two-run double, a sacrifice fly, a walk, a run-scoring single, a groundout, and a run-scoring triple. , a three-run home run.
It was a total thrashing and showed the baseball world just how lethal their lineup was, producing two doubles, two triples, two home runs and a total of 22 bases.
message?
“It was about going out and dominating,” said American infielder Tim Anderson. The whole goal is to really pass the stick.
And we kept pouring it on them. ”
Outside the starting lineup, outfielder Kyle Tucker had at least one hit, led by two by Anderson and catcher JT Realmut.
Everyone in the lineup drove in at least one run, but Mookie Betts led by Trout’s three RBIs.
Everyone in the lineup except Tucker and Real Moot scored at least one run, with five players scoring two runs.
Team USA will have a day off on Tuesday and a day off on Thursday if they reach the quarterfinals.
Indeed, the United States has a scar, which was exposed in an ugly loss against Mexico. And even if Shohei Ohtani is skipped, he could still make it to the quarterfinals against aces like Yu Darvish and Japan’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Sandy Alcantara from the Dominican Republic. Julio Urias of Mexico or Marcus Stroman of Puerto Rico.
There’s a reason the USA aren’t tournament favorites, but they’ve regained confidence after Monday’s loss.
Could it even be that another second baseman was found in the process? Anderson chicago white soxAll-Star shortstop for the NBA, played second base for the first time in his professional career and appeared to have played there for the rest of his life.
“He wants the moment. He has the edge,” DeRosa said.
Anderson went 2-for-3, recording a triple, an RBI, two runs, a walk and a perfect defense.
“I’m always trying to prove something,” said Anderson. I just got the chance to show the world what kind of athlete I am.”
The White Sox have certainly known his talent for a long time, but now that he’s on the global stage, everyone knows he’s the greatest person in the game.
“Over the course of your career,” says his White Sox teammate Lynn. Tim Anderson isn’t afraid of anything.
“He’s gone through a lot in his life to be where he is.
“I don’t think anyone on the mound would scare him.”
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The entire team echoes the same sentiments now, as America dominates in a way that was long anticipated.
Their chartered team flight is scheduled for Thursday morning from Phoenix to Miami.
they are going to participate in it.
You may have pitching restrictions, individual club demands, or personal demands, but you’re too talented to go home early.
“We’re going to figure it out,” says DeRosa. “It has to change.
Follow Bob Nightingale on Twitter @Bnightengale.
