Marlins play big role in Team USA’s WBC Championship game victory

For the first time ever, Team USA was crowned World Baseball Classic Champions on Wednesday night.

The United States defeated Puerto Rico ( - ) on the shoulders of a marvelous pithing performance from Marcus Stroman. The Team USA starter threw six no-hit innings before allowing a double to Angel Pagan to lead off the seventh. He then walked off the mound to a standing ovation from the Dodger Stadium pro-USA crowd.

The two Marlins in the lineup for Team USA were Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton. Yelich batted third and played left field while Stanton batted eighth and served as the designated hitter.

Yelich went 2-for-5 on the night with a double, single and an RBI. His biggest moment came in the fifth inning when he lined an RBI single into right field off of Seth Lugo to put Team USA up 3-0.

Stanton added the same stat line—2-for-5 with a double, single and an RBI. After striking out in his first three at-bats, Stanton grounded a run-scoring single past the glove of a diving Francisco Lindor and into left field to put Team USA up 7-0 in the seventh inning.

Now, with the WBC over, the two Marlins stars will return to spring training to prepare for a 2017 season that hopefully includes a lot more winning.