Mike Trout leads the U.S. over Colombia and into the quarterfinals of the WBC
Trout had three hits and three RBIs, and the U.S. used a stellar night from its deep bullpen to beat Colombia 3-2.
PHOENIX — Mike Trout had three hits and three RBIs, and the United States used a stellar night from its deep bullpen to beat Colombia 3-2 and advance to the quarterfinals.
Mexico and the U.S. both finished with a 3-1 record in Group C to advance. Mexico gets the top seed because it beat the U.S. 11-5 on Sunday.
Trout singled in the third, bringing home Mookie Betts and giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Colombia bounced back quickly, taking a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third on Gio Urshela’s sacrifice fly and an RBI double from Reynaldo Rodriguez.
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Trout put the Americans ahead again in the fifth with a two-run single that scored Betts and Will Smith.
Merrill Kelly gave up two runs in three innings for the Americans. Kelly then gave way to a parade of hard throwing bullpen arms: Kendall Graveman, Daniel Bard, David Bednar, Jason Adam, Devin Williams and Ryan Pressly each threw a scoreless inning to finish the win.
The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner were in the starting lineup for the U.S. Turner was 1 for 3 with a single in the seventh inning and Schwarber went 0 for 3.
Colombia started the tournament with an upset win over Mexico, but then lost three straight to Canada, Britain and the U.S.
A crowd of 29,856 at Chase Field watched the game.