Cole, Team USA shut down Canada: Team USA advances to Championship game, Sunday

PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia -- Andy Wilkins hit an RBI triple in second inning and Gerrit Cole (UCLA) pitched a complete game two-hitter as Team USA beat Canada, 1-0, at the 2009 Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline World Baseball Challenge at Prince George Citizen Field.

Yasmani Grandal (Miami) hit a single to right field with two outs and Wilkins followed with an RBI triple off of the scoreboard in left center to put the U.S. up 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

The one run cushion was all USA starting pitcher Cole (4-0) needed as he pitched all nine innings giving up only two hits. Cole hit two batters and walked one but did not allow a runner to reach third base. He finished the game with seven strikeouts, three of which ended the game in the ninth.

Canada starting pitcher Jordan Rawlyk pitched four innings, giving up one run on two hits and striking out two U.S. batters. Reliever Eric Brown came in for four innings and only allowed one hit.

Both benches cleared in the top of the eighth inning when Canadian base runner Nic Lendvoy slid hard into second base on a double play that caused Team USA captain and starting shortstop Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) to be carried off the field. The umpires contained the situation and the game promptly restarted.

With the win, Team USA automatically advances to the Championship game, Sunday, July 26, at 4 p.m. (7 p.m. ET). Drew Pomeranz (Ole Miss) is expected to take the mound for Team USA.