Mike Trout’s Clutch Hitting Wows Twitter as USA Advances in WBC with Win vs. Colombia
Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images
The United States is moving on at the 2023 World Baseball Classic after defeating Colombia 3-2 on Wednesday night in Pool C action at Chase Field in Arizona.
The Americans entered Wednesday’s contest second in Pool C with a 2-1 record. Mexico, which went 3-1 in pool play, including an 11-5 win over the U.S., had already clinched the pool and a berth in the quarterfinals.
The United States was powered by none other than Mike Trout in Wednesday’s win. The Los Angeles Angels slugger posted three hits in four at-bats, driving in all of the Stars and Stripes’ three runs.
Trout knocked in the first run of the game on a ground ball to center field in the top of the third inning, which scored Mookie Betts from second base.
B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoff
Captain Trout coming through 🫡
Colombia briefly took the lead with a two-run bottom of the third, but Trout helped the Americans get back on top for good with a line drive single to left field in the top of the fifth inning, driving in Betts and Will Smith.
B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoff
Mike Trout puts USA back on top 🇺🇸
This type of performance is typical of Trout, but his clutch hitting never fails to amaze baseball Twitter, which praised him for helping the United States advance:
Jon Morosi @jonmorosi
Mike Trout tonight: 3-for-3. Triple. 3 RBI.
The game American baseball fans have dreamed about since Trout signed on to play for @USABaseball. @MLBNetwork
Nick Parco @nick_parco
Would be sick if Mike Trout played on an MLB team that put him in position to get at-bats in big moments
Hannah Keyser @HannahRKeyser
who knew “mike trout does it all himself” was an option??
(not angels fans)
Kelsey Wingert-Linch @KelsWingert
Mike Trout has knocked in all three runs for Team USA tonight. He’s so good, man.
Jake Reiner @Reiner_Jake
Mike Trout has been unleashed #ForGlory pic.twitter.com/1DxVHP4hc1
Michael Baumann @MichaelBaumann
A little disappointed we didn’t see tiebreaker gamesmanship chaos, but Team USA wins 3-2 and advances to the quarterfinal. Mike Trout had One of Those Games.
With the Dominican Republic having been eliminated in pool action on Wednesday with a loss to Puerto Rico, the United States has a chance to capitalize on what is now considered a wide-open field with the tournament favorites out.
As the Pool C runner-up, the United States will face Venezuela in the quarterfinal round on Friday at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.
Venezuela, which is led by Jose Altuve and Ronald Acuña Jr., will be a tough matchup for the Americans in the next round. The Venezuelans went 4-0 in Pool D action, defeating the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
