By Fox Sports Writing
Maple Leafs beat UK 18-8 in biggest crop
It takes two to make history. Canada and Great Britain, the latter participating in its first World Baseball Classic, combined for 26 runs Sunday afternoon at Chase Field, setting a new tournament record for runs scored in a game.
An avalanche of attacks descended on the desert as Canada equaled the record for most runs by a single club in the Classic, earning an 18-8 victory under the mercy rule after seven innings .
Canadian Rakin.
The highest score #WorldBaseballClassic game history goes to Team Canada. pic.twitter.com/QUfI7inqUG
— World Baseball Classic (@WCBBaseball) March 12, 2023
Before Canada entered the batting box, they were already facing a three-run deficit. After a season six years ago that saw them combine for just three points in three games, the task might have seemed daunting.
But as a prelude to things to come, second baseman Edouard Julien caught the first pitch the Canadiens saw at the 2023 Classic and hit it into the right field seats. Six members of the club’s front nine had multiple hits, including center fielder Tyler O’Neill, who went 4-for-4 with four RBIs on all three holes.
“It was amazing, the first pitch, without wasting time, he came out ready to hit,” O’Neill said of Julien’s home run. “Kudos to Jules for doing that. It really got the wind back in our sails and we were going full steam ahead from there.”
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