:quality(85)//cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/FHE2VCGU7R23SVIJAYMGBS2KE4.jpg "Schwarber home run sees USA beat Great Britain 1")
PHOENIX (AP) — Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run homer and the United States rallied to beat Great Britain 6-2 on Saturday in the teams’ first meeting in the World Baseball Classic.
Nolan Arenado had three hits and a few RBIs for the locals.
Trayce Thompson gave Great Britain a 1-0 lead in the first inning with a home run off Adam Wainwright. The ball went just over the wall, between left field and center field.
Thompson, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is one of the few British players with major league experience.
His shot momentarily dampened the morale of many of the 39,650 fans gathered at Chase Field. However, the hosts’ handicap did not last long.
They took a 2-1 lead in the third act and settled the game in the fourth, with Schwarber’s club shot laying the ball in the stands near the pool in right center field.
Wainwright allowed one run and five hits over four innings for the win. Kyle Freeland allowed one run in three relief innings and David Bednar struck out all three in the ninth.
Vance Worley, a former major league pitcher, allowed two unearned runs in 2 2/3 innings for the Brits. Thompson, who tied a career-high 13 homers with the Dodgers last season, finished with two hits.