PHOENIX — America’s game is turning into America’s shame.
On a night Team USA was humbled 5-2 by Mexico at Chase Field in the World Baseball Classic Friday night as R.A. Dickey was shelled, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig talked about the importance of the globalization of the game and of one day having a “real World Series.’’
Yes, it is a new baseball world.
Selig made his comments as Team USA was getting roughed up by Mexico in the opening game for Joe Torre’s backs-to-the-wall squad.
Team USA must turn it around quickly or it will not make it to the second round in Miami, especially because Italy is off to a tremendous 2-0 start, having 10-run ruled Canada, 14-4, earlier in the day.
Italy and Team USA will meet Saturday night. If Mexico beats Canada and Team USA loses to Italy, it will be arrivederci, Team USA.
“We have to win [tonight],’’ Torre said.
Torre’s team was 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position — even with no Yankees on the roster.
“They outplayed us,” David Wright said. “They pitched better than us. They hit better than us, we just couldn’t get that big hit. They outplayed us in every area of the game and that’s what you get. They got good players, we have good players, they were better than us in everything.’’
That includes defending Cy Young winner Dickey.
“I wasn’t as sharp,” Dickey said of his knuckleball. “The beauty of this tournament is that if we take care of business the next two days, it’s a clean slate.’’
Despite the U.S. loss, Selig said he is excited for the future of the game.
“The thought of having a real World Series and the interest in the world is breathtaking to me. I can’t even imagine how great that can be,’’ Selig said. “Someday you get a United States vs. Japan in a real World Series. The goal here is to internationalize the sport. That’s in everyone’s best interests. If we do it right, you won’t recognize this sport in a decade. It’s a great atmosphere here tonight.’’
It was a pro-Mexico crowd of 44,256 from the start. Chants of “USA” were drowned out by chants for Mexico.
The world is passing America by in the WBC, that’s for sure. Team USA came into the night carrying the weight of the baseball world on its shoulders. You can tell by the chip the players are hauling around.
If Team USA does not make it to the finals in San Francisco, the WBC essentially will be dead as a tournament in the United States, and simply will become a spring training venue for selling Team Italy T-shirts while the game continues to grow worldwide.
There is only one way they can turn on the American fans to this spring fling: “Win,’’ Team USA second basemen Brandon Phillips said. “We’ve got to get to the final dance and we’ve got to win it all.’’
There is no Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, David Price, Prince Fielder or Justin Verlander to save Team USA.
Dickey didn’t look anything like a Cy Young winner as he surrendered six hits and four runs over four innings, including a two-run home run to Adrian Gonzalez.
When Dickey was asked by The Post on Thursday why the WBC has not gained acceptance in the U.S. and the respect of the fans, he answered, “Some of it may have to do with you and the way you write it.’’
Dickey said he was talking about the media in general.
“ ‘You’ collectively. Not ‘you’ in particular,” he said. “I think that winning it certainly has to do something with it. … If we are successful and win it, then I think you’re going to have more support.’’
Said Phillips: “We’ve got to get the fans into it. We need their support because all the other countries, they have nothing but support, we need the USA to back us up.’’
It’s win or go home in shame, having lost America’s game once again in the WBC.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com