Canada’s Tyson Gillies, right, knocks down Mexico pitcher Alfredo Aceves (above) during a brawl in the ninth inning of Canada’s 10-3 victory. Team USA faces Canada today.
PHOENIX — A WWE-like brawl and a David Wright grand slam blast made it a memorable night at the WBC — now the World Basebrawl Classic.
Wright provided the monster hit Team USA has been looking for, a two-out grand slam in the fifth inning that snapped a 2-2 tie that lifted the USA to a 6-2 win over Italy at Chase Field. That hit set up today’s win-or-go home faceoff against Canada. Italy advanced to the second round with Mexico’s 10-3 loss to Canada.
“When you put that USA jersey on, there’s a bull’s-eye on your back,’’ Wright said. “Teams want to beat us. That [home run] was emotional. You hear the USA chants, you look up into the stands and see the flags, you look in the dugout and see USA across the guys’ chests, you get caught up in the game, you get emotional. I’ve experienced what it was like in the last WBC, making it to the semifinals and how much fun that is. It only gets better from here, I want to experience that and more.’’
Wright got a game-winning hit in the last WBC that sent USA to the semis.
But the U.S. win didn’t have the most fireworks. Mexico and Canada produced a donnybrook in Canada’s 10-3 elimination whipping of Mexico, a Pier 6 brawl with players tumbling everywhere across the diamond, including ex-Yankee Alfredo Aceves who was tossed to the ground like a rag doll by Canada’s Tyson Gillies. Aceves then ran into the pile like a man possessed.
Afterward, Canada coach Larry Walker told reporters of Aceves, “I had a hold of him and I thought I saw Satan in his eyes.’’
Yes, it appears the WBC is bringing teams and countries together on the baseball diamond as seven players were ejected.
The Canadians showed they will not go down without a fight.
“You can’t hurt us Canadians,’’ manager Ernie Whitt said. “We have to win [today].’’
“It’s like a Game 7,’’ Joe Torre said of today’s game.
We’ll see how much fight Team USA has in it. Derek Holland will start for the U.S. against Jameson Taillon, the second pick of the 2010 draft.
The fight began because Canada’s Chris Robinson bunted for a base hit to lead off the ninth with a 9-3 lead. That’s a no-no in real baseball, but this isn’t real baseball. Every run is important because of the run differential rules.
“We want to play the game hard,’’ Robinson said. As for the collision at the plate he noted with a smile, “it was just unfortunate that it was the pitch after getting hit in the [groin].’’
Whitt said all of the teams in the WBC know the score is “zero-zero’’ at all times. Mexico didn’t get the memo.
Oliver Perez, the ex-Met, said his team knew the rules but still was upset by the bunt, caught up in the emotion of the game. Robinson also had a takeout slide at second and the catcher was involved in a collision at home plate.
“I guess we made history today,’’ Perez said, “The first fight in the WBC.’’
After the bunt, Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon went after Rene Tosini, and eventually hit him with a pitch, setting off the brawl. It turned ugly in the stands, too, with Mexican fans hurling objects at the Canadians. Pitching coach Denis Boucher was hit in the side of the face with a plastic water bottle and a baseball hurled from the stands nearly beaned Walker, who was coaching first.
Multiple fights broke out, and several police officers came onto the field trying to restore order. There also was a few skirmishes in the decidedly pro-Mexico crowd of 19,581. Seven players were ejected after umpires huddled, trying to sort out the frenzy.
Aceves was among four Mexican players thrown out — the angry Red Sox reliever was tossed to the ground by Gillies during the height of the altercation, then rushed to rejoin the fray.
Also ejected were Leon, Perez and Eduardo Arredondo of Mexico and Tosoni, Pete Orr and Jay Johnson of Canada. A statement from WBC organizers said video of the incident would be reviewed for possible disciplinary action.
This is the World Basebrawl Classic and Team USA and their leader Wright will have to fight to survive against those plucky Canadians.