World Baseball Classic: Great Britain 7, Colombia 5
For the moment, what Great Britain did against Colombia Monday qualifies as the upset of the World Baseball Classic. The Brits, who lost to the U.S. and then got run-ruled by Canada, took a hatchet to Colombia’s hopes of assuming a commanding position in Group C in Phoenix.
Into the fourth inning, this game pretty much followed the perceived script. Colombia starter William Cuevas, a former Red Sox farmhand, retired six of the first batters he faced and held Great Britain to one hit through three innings.
That was long enough for Colombia to build a 3-0 lead. But in the bottom of the fourth, things veered off script. Catcher Harry Ford singled, Nick Ward walked, and Cuevas was lifted for reliever Julio Vivas, who promptly moved both runners along with a wild pickoff throw.
B.J. Murray’s fly ball got Ford home, walks to Darnell Sweeney and Nick Ward loaded the bases, and forced another pitching change, Yapson Gomez coming in. He fanned Anfernee Seymour for the second out, but let Chavez Young slip a base hit between shortstop and third to score both Ward and Sweeney with the tying runs.
The Brits continued their uprising one inning later when Jaden Rudd doubled two go-ahead runs across. They made it 7-3 in the seventh when Ford homered and a wild pitch produced Britain’s final run.
Britain’s surprising win provided a major boost to the USA’s hopes for advancing. Had Colombia won, the Colombians would be 2-0 and needing only to beat Canada Tuesday to wrap up advancement.
It also would have put the United States, Mexico and Canada in a three-way contest for the only other ticket out of the bracket, a disadvantageous spot for the U.S., which still must play Colombia. Mexico has two games remaining, but they are against Canada and Great Britain, apparently the Group’s weaker sisters.
Mexico also holds the first tie-breaker over the United States by virtue of its head-to-head victory Sunday.