Justin Smoak got things started for Team USA in the first inning when he lined a two-RBI single up the middle with the bases loaded on Canadian starter Brooks McNiven. Tug Hulett followed with an RBI single up the middle himself and put the U.S. ahead 3-0 early.
Buck Coats and Jon Weber each hit an RBI single to the outfield in the second inning to put the U.S. up 5-0 and Ike Davis put the game out of reach when his double to the centerfield wall scored Team USA's sixth run.
Justin Smoak plated the seventh and final U.S. run with an RBI on a routine groundout in the second.
USA starter Brad Lincoln (1-0) pitched four innings, giving up one run on three hits for the win. Trevor Reckling, B.J. Rosenberg, and Nate Field combined for five innings of relief to close out the game for the U.S. Field (1) picked up the save, finishing with four strikeouts.
Canadian starter Brooks McNiven (0-1) pitched four innings, and gave up seven runs on nine hits in the loss. Chris Kissock, Dustin Molleken, and Robert Swindle came on and pitched five innings of hitless relief for Team Canada.
Canada attempted a comeback in the bottom of the eighth inning when it pushed three unearned runs across the plate on B.J. Rosenberg, but Nate Field came on and struck out Chris Robinson to stop the bleeding before striking out the side to end the game.
Cole Armstrong hit a home run to right field for Canada in the second inning.
Team USA and Team Canada will face off in game three of the four game series on Saturday, September 5, at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. First pitch is slated for 6:00 PM. Todd Redmond is slated to start on the mound for the U.S.
