World Baseball Classic: Great Britain lose 18-8 to Canada in record tournament score
- Published
Britain celebrated Trayce Thompson scoring the side's first run at the World Baseball Classic by dressing the LA Dodgers player in a crown and robe
Great Britain played their part in a tournament record on Sunday after losing to the USA in their debut at the World Baseball Classic.
Britain were beaten 6-2 by the reigning champions in Pool C on Saturday and faced Canada in their second game.
The two teams combined to score 26 runs, a tournament high for runs scored in a game, with Canada winning 18-8.
Britain will also face Colombia and Mexico, with all Pool C games played at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
Canada's tally also tied the record for most runs from a single team in the Classic, being contested for the fifth time this year, which earned them a mercy rule victory after seven innings.
In their tournament debut against the US, Britain went 1-0 up from Trayce Thompson's home run in the first inning before the powerful hosts took control.
Nolan Arenado's three hits and a three-run home run from Kyle Schwarber helped the US establish a 6-1 lead, before D'Shawn Knowles scored off Anfernee Seymour's groundout in the seventh to make it 6-2.
Reaching what is essentially the sport's world cup was a remarkable achievement in itself for the British side.
Qualification for the tournament is worth six times the annual income of the GB governing body.
The 30-man roster is a mix of global players with British or Caribbean ancestry and UK-born talent who have emigrated.
LA Dodgers outfielder Thompson is arguably the biggest name among the group, and his history-making first run for Britain was given the royal treatment by his team-mates, who celebrated by dressing him in a crown and robe.
"We were excited, that's a great moment for us," said Great Britain manager Drew Spencer.
Britain next face Colombia at 19:00 GMT on Monday.