Relentless US overpowers Great Britain to begin title defense

PHOENIX -- On paper, every iteration of Team USA’s lineup looks potent. In practice, the Americans bore that hypothesis out Saturday night, cruising to a 6-2 victory over Great Britain to open Pool C play at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The top eight hitters in the lineup all reached base at least once, with the team amassing 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position. There was no frame in which they were retired in order.

After near misses that landed on the warning track from Mookie Betts and Mike Trout early on, Kyle Schwarber brought Chase Field to its collective feet in the fourth.

When Schwarber dropped the bat head, there was a hush. Then, as the ball sailed past the pool beyond the right-center-field fence, there was an eruption of sound. Finally, as he crossed home plate and high-fived Trout and Paul Goldschmidt, a “U-S-A! U-S-A!” chant filled the yard.

"It's pretty close to playoff baseball right there," Team USA starter Adam Wainwright said. "I mean, I thought it was like probably the most exciting game I've pitched in a long time, honestly. It was so fun."

While Schwarber delivered the big blow, Nolan Arenado-- one of two players to return from the 2017 title-winning club -- was the straw that stirred the drink, collecting three hits and two RBIs, including getting the club on the board in the third with the first of his pair of RBI doubles.

Trayce Thompson gave Great Britain a jolt in the first, ripping a home run off Wainwright. The veteran outfielder made history, becoming the first player to go deep in Classic play for the Brits, who fittingly crowned him as he returned to the dugout.

Great Britain faces a quick turnaround, returning to the diamond at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday to face Canada on FS1. Next up for the United States is a sold-out clash with Mexico on FS1 on Sunday night at 10 ET. If Day 1 crowds for both clubs are any indication, Chase Field figures to be rocking at nearly unprecedented levels.

"I think it's all about the reason we're here for," Schwarber said. "We're here for our country, and we're here to go out there and try to get to the very end of this thing. And it's not like we're just here to be here. We're not just happy to be here; no, we want to go out there and try to finish this thing off."