Canada won, that’s all that matters. It’s not how, but how much - age-old verbiage that, one might say, was destined in creation to reference the Great Britain vs. Canada matchup we all just witnessed.

An 18-8 final, ending after seven innings due to the World Baseball Classic’s mercy rule. Thankfully, as Buck Martinez and Rich Waltz pointed out on the broadcast, for everyone involved. A painfully long game for fans, one of a number of group-stage games that have gone over the four-hour mark.

The day started well for team Great Britain, who looked to build off an impressively competitive game against the United States just hours earlier, scoring three runs off of Team Canada ace Cal Quantrill in the top half of the first. The lead didn’t last long though, as Edouard Julien smashed Akeel Morris’ first pitch of the game into the right field bleachers - a solo shot to cut Canada’s deficit to 3-1, but the instigating blow for an afternoon of offence.

Team Canada scored at least one run in every inning played, amounting to eighteen runs on seventeen hits and sixteen walks. Only Jared Young and Bo Naylor went hitless, though each walked thrice. Tyler O’Neill and Jacob Robson each went 4-4, combining for five RBIs. Chicago Cubs’ prospect Owen Caissie - the only Canadian to not walk - blasted his first home run of the tournament in the bottom of the third, Team Canada’s second of the day.

Six arms were used by Team Canada, with Cal Quantrill not making it out of the first inning. Aumont, Rutckyj, Taylor, Axford, and Brash followed, with Matt Brash striking out the side in the seventh - and putting everyone out of their misery. Quantrill and Rutckyj both went over the 30-pitch mark, thus negating them as options for tonight’s game against the United States - a team that’s also dealing with pitching issues. Texas Rangers’ Mitch Bratt is scheduled to start tonight, though Manager Ernie Whitt admitted Team Canada is under orders by the Rangers to pull Bratt before the 65-pitch limit - a decision, Texas made, in an effort to slowly build up their #17 prospect.

The United States, having lost to Mexico yesterday, currently sits at 1-1. A surprise upset win by Canada could push the Americans to the brink of elimination - a possibility no one saw coming. Colombia (1-0) faces Great Britain (0-2) at 3pm, while Mexico (1-1) has the day off. The US faces Canada at 10pm. Veteran righty Lance Lynn will take the ball for the States, hoping to have a better start than Nick Martinez had against Mexico twenty-four hours ago.

Across the pond, Team Cuba (2-2) and Team Italy (2-2) advance in Pool A - a chaotic grouping, in which every team finished with a 2-2 record. Team Japan (4-0) and Team Australia (3-1) advance in Pool B, with Team Australia advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in World Baseball Classic history. Italy will play Japan, and Australia will play Cuba on March 15/16 at the Tokyo Dome.

For Team Canada though, all eyes are on the Americans. A win tonight would put them 2-0, and one step closer to making it out of the group stage for the first time in history.