One For the Books!

What a difference a day makes.

Just hours after suffering a historic lopsided loss to Canada on Sunday, Great Britain returned to make history of their own on Monday with its first ever World Baseball Classic win in program history. 

The Bahamian contingent again had some of the biggest moments for Great Britain at the plate and in the field.

Chavez Young finished 1-3 with two RBI and one stolen, BJ Murray Jr went 1-3 with an RBI and Chavez Fernander made the first pitching appearance of any Bahamian player thus far.

A decisive fifth inning proved to be the difference as Great Britain surged ahead to take the lead for good.

Tied 3-3, Bahamian players showed off some defensive web gems recording all three outs in the fifth. Murray made a spectacular diving stop in third and completed the play to throw out Gio Urshela at first. In the next at bat, Young slid into foul territory to grab a pop out and retire Jorge Alfaro, while Anfernee Seymour ended the inning catching Reynaldo Rodriguez’ pop out.

In the home half, Nick Ward got GB started in the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Murray groundout. Darnell Sweeney was intentionally walked and both runners advanced to second and third respectively on a wild pitch. Jaden Rudd doubled to left field to give GB a 5-3 lead.

BJ Murray celebrates his double with the “tea drinking” celebration Bahamian players have made popular during the tournament

Both teams retired the side in order in the sixth and Fernander made his appearance on the mound in the seventh. Following a single to Dayan Frias, Gustavo Campero hit into a force out and Harold Ramirez walked to place runners at first and second. Fernander got Urshela to fly out to Young and Alfaro grounded out to Sweeney to complete a scoreless inning.

GB tacked on more runs in the bottom half of the seventh, highlighted by Harry Ford’s solo shot to the left field bullpen for a 6-3 lead. Ward would score on a wild pitch to give GB a 7-3 lead.

Colombia rallied in the top half of the ninth with a pair of runs before Ian Gibaut struck out Meibrys Viloria for the final out.

A scoreless first inning saw just one baserunner for either side when Urshela drew a walk. Great Britain didn’t fare much better on the offensive end as the top three batters were retired in order.

Colombia got on the scoreboard first in the second. Viloria reached on a throwing error by Sweeney and advanced to second when the errant throw got behind first baseman Nick Ward. Seymour made a spectacular play on a ground ball to throw out Jordan Diaz, but an Oscar Mercado single drove in Viloria to give Colombia a 1-0 lead. Murray doubled to left center to give Great Britain its first baserunner of the afternoon but was left stranded to end the second.

In the third, Seymour just missed out on a spectacular double play when Ramirez hit into a force out. He was able to tag Campero, en route to second but Ramierz beat the throw to first by inches. 

Chavez Fernander pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief to help GB to the win over Colombia

In the fourth, Dayan Frias singled on a line drive to right field which scored Viloria and Diaz and gave Colombia a 3-1 lead. Great Britain began the bottom of the fourth with a pair of baserunners when Harry Ford hit a leadoff single and Nick Ward drew a walk. After a wild throw on a pickoff attempt sent Ford to third, Murray drove in GB’s first run of the game on a sac fly to deep left field. Both Sweeney and Rudd walked to load the bases. Seymour struck out, but Young laced a two-RBI to single to score Ward and Sweeney and tie the game 3-3.

Great Britain closes out Pool D play Tuesday night against Mexico at 10pm EST.

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