Yasmani Grandal (pictured) blasted a two-run homer in the sixth, giving USA Baseball’s National Team the lead for good in a 5-2 win over host Canada in the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George, British Columbia.
The win in the opener of the event broke the Americans’ two-game losing streak.
Christian Colon of Cal State-Fullerton gave the USA a lead in the first with his solo homer.
The Canadians took the lead by scratching out two in the bottom of the frame off Ole Miss’ Drew Pomeranz. Kevin Atkinson scored the first run on a sacrifice fly, while Nic Lendovy brought home the second on a fielder’s choice.
The winning rally came with two out in the sixth, when Tennessee’s Blake Forsythe drew a two-out walk and Grandal, a rising junior at Miami, followed with his two-run blast to right.
The USA got insurance runs on a wild pitch in the eighth and an RBI double from Hawaii’s Kolten Wong in the ninth.
Pomeranz (3-1) of picked up the victory, striking out six in six innings. Tulane’s Nick Pepitone collected the save.
Danny Briton-Foster also had a quality start, going six innings for the Canadians.
The USA’s second game in the event is against Germany, tonight at 10 p.m. EDT.
