Paul Skenes dazzles, Team USA drives in pair of home runs in World Baseball Classic exhibition win over Giants

Roman Anthony wasn’t even supposed to play in the World Baseball Classic this year. But when Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll broke his right hamate bone, Anthony got the call, less than a year after being called up to the majors with the Boston Red Sox.

Anthony, 21, fit right in with Team USA on Tuesday during their 15-1 exhibition victory over the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium in Arizona. He hit a two-run homer over the right field wall in the sixth inning. Two innings earlier, his former Red Sox teammate, three-time All-Star Alex Bregman, hit a solo shot to center.

Advertisement

They were part of a star-studded lineup leading a Team USA team that is motivated to pick up where the United States left off in a record-setting Winter Olympics.

Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes previewed what was to come on the mound with four strikeouts and no walks in three innings pitched.

After the U.S. men’s and women’s hockey teams won gold in Italy, Americans on the diamond are eager for redemption after the team they fielded in the WBC three years ago fell to Japan in the championship game.

The journey officially begins on Friday when Team USA opens Group B against Brazil. But the Americans mocked his potential three days earlier against a Giants team that even offered some minor leaguers to wear the Stars and Stripes as reserves in an exhibition that included an extra 10th inning.

Advertisement

Here’s a look at the lineup that Team USA manager Mark DeRosa unveiled:

Fittingly, U.S. team captain Aaron Judge got the Americans on the board first with a two-RBI single to center. Judge’s hit followed a double by Harper and a single by Witt.

Giants shortstop Willy Adames doubled Skenes in the bottom of the first and actually scored later in the frame, marking Skenes’ only earned run of the afternoon.

That run is all San Francisco managed against Team USA.

Bregman’s home run lifted the Americans to a 3-1 lead. Harper then drove a two-run single to right field, making it a 5-1 game in the fifth.

Advertisement

One inning later, Anthony tattooed a Blade Tidwell pitch. The long ball traveled 394 feet.

In the seventh, Team USA got an assist from some Giants minor leaguers. Charlie Szykowny doubled, scoring Pete Crow-Armstrong. And Dakota Jordan and Gavin Kilen each had RBI singles to extend the lead to 10-1.

Doubles by Gunnar Henderson and PCA in that same inning, plus a single by “Big Dumper” Cal Raleigh in the ninth, completed Team USA’s scoring.

Americans enjoyed plenty of racing on Tuesday. While their talent-laden pitching staff has drawn attention ahead of this year’s WBC, they will likely need their bats to stay hot over the next two weeks if they want to win the tournament.