Team USA World Baseball Classic score: Kyle Schwarber, Nolan Arenado power past Great Britain in WBC Game 1

USA began its World Baseball Classic title defense Saturday night

Team USA, champions of the most recent World Baseball Classic in 2017, began their title defense Saturday night against Great Britain. (Here is the full WBC schedule.) The Americans, heavy favorites thanks to a roster loaded with All-Stars, nevertheless fell behind early before taking the lead in the third inning. From there, the Americans were able to cruise to a 6-2 victory.

It's been six years since the most recent WBC, so it's worth rehashing the basics before delving into more details about Team USA's win. The main points of emphasis are that the 20 teams are split into four five-team pools; the teams in each pool will play one another once apiece, with the top two teams advancing to the next round; from there, the WBC then amounts to an eight-team, single-elimination tournament to determine the champion.

Now, with that out of the way, you can scroll below to find three things to know from Team USA's opening victory, as well as CBS Sports' live blog coverage.

1. Arenado, Schwarber too much to handle

If Team USA is to repeat as WBC champions, then that title will likely be credited to an outstanding lineup. Imagine how surprising it was, then, to see the Americans fail to plate a run through the first two innings against Vance Worley, a former big-league pitcher who had struggled in a second-division independent league last season. 

Team USA's bats started to come alive in the third inning, when Nolan Arenado tied the game on a double that scored his St. Louis Cardinals teammate Paul Goldschmidt. Arenado himself then scored on a line-drive single from Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, giving the Americans a 2-1 lead.

Kyle Schwarber would extend their advantage an inning later, launching a three-run home-run to make it 5-1. 

Arenado would strike again in the sixth, doubling again to give the Americans a 6-1 edge. Great Britain would get a run back in the seventh, but it didn't matter. The Americans had a firm enough grasp on the lead to make it count.

2. American pitchers weather early storm

Adam Wainwright, the longtime St. Louis Cardinals ace, received the nod in Saturday's game. Unfortunately, he scuffled early. Great Britain's second batter of the night, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson, launched a solo home run to put them ahead 1-0 in the early stages:

Wainwright was far from perfect after that, but he finished his night having allowed just that one run over four innings. He yielded five hits and a walk, and struck out just four batters on 49 pitches. Still, Cardinals fans in particular have reason to be concerned -- his fastball averaged 85 mph, or three full ticks below his average from last season. 

The rest of the USA pitching staff had a better night overall. Tampa Bay Rays reliever Jason Adam threw a perfect frame, and Colorado Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland held Great Britain to a run over two innings of work and the Pirates' David Bednar closed it out.

3. What's next

The Americans will reconvene on Sunday night for a 10 p.m. first pitch against Mexico. San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Martinez will get the nod for Team USA. It's too early to use a phrase like "must-win," but Mexico could use the win after losing to Colombia on Saturday in an extra-innings tilt. 

[Mar 12, 2023 at 12:02 am ET · R.J. Anderson]

Ballgame

Bednar strikes out three despite allowing a hit. Team USA wins 6-2.

[Mar 12, 2023 at 12:00 am ET · R.J. Anderson]

Another K for Bednar

One out away from a Team USA win.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Great Britain has a baserunner

That's a hit for Ward. Team GB still needs several bloops and a blast to tie it, and they have only two outs to work with.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:57 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Bednar opens ninth with a K

Team USA is two outs away from a win.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:54 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

We head to the ninth

It's still 6-2 USA.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:44 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

We're heading to the bottom of the eighth

It's 6-2 Americans.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:10 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Arenado delivers again

That's the third hit of the night for him, and this particular one makes it 6-1 Americans.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:07 pm ET · Kate Feldman]

A reminder, just in case

If a team is up by 10 or more runs after seven innings, the WBC has a mercy rule. There's one for a 15-run lead after the fifth inning too.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:06 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Freeland gets through scoreless sixth

USA still leads 5-1.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 11:00 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

We're headed to the sixth

It's still 5-1 Americans.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:49 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Jason Adam with a scoreless fifth

Game is halfway over, assuming we don't require extras.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:39 pm ET · Kate Feldman]

Here's that Schwarber bomb for those interested

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:36 pm ET · Kate Feldman]

Take back what I said

Right right, Kyle Schwarber is also really strong

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:36 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Schwarber delivers three-run shot

Team USA now has some breathing room following a Kyle Schwarber three-run home run. It's 5-1 Americans here in the fourth.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:31 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Arenado up

Ryan Long is on for GB. Arenado has had a big game, including a game-tying double in the third.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:29 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Team USA has something brewing

Two one, one out in the fourth. Great Britain moving to a third pitcher.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:21 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Nevermind

Wainwright induces an inning-ending double play. USA is up 2-1 entering the bottom of the fourth.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:21 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Great Britain puts the tying run on

Here in the fourth. Wainwright still in, but he's at 48 pitches. Jaden Rudd will attempt to do some damage here, perhaps even tie the game.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:17 pm ET · Kate Feldman]

Union jacked

Everyone came into this game expecting a blowout by Team USA. We may still get there but Great Britain and Vance Worley specifically deserve a lot of credit for keeping this so close so far.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:12 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Tucker delivers

It's now 2-1 after a line drive back up the middle.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:11 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Turner walks

Runners on the corners with two outs in the third. Worley is done after 60 pitches. Kyle Tucker will face Jake Esch instead.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:06 pm ET · Kate Feldman]

Power blip

I'm not saying Trayce Thompson is stronger than Kyle Schwarber and Mike Trout but the latter have had some very long blasts and only the former has made it out. Mookie Betts came close too.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:04 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Arenado ties game at 1-1

A double down the left-field line from Nolan Arenado plates Paul Goldschmidt. 

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:03 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Tying run is now at second

Goldschmidt reached and now advanced on a wild pitch.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 10:01 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Trout sends ball to the warning track ...

... to lead off the bottom of the third. Unfortunately for him, that was that. 

[Mar 11, 2023 at 9:58 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Through 2 1/2

It's still 1-0 GB. 

[Mar 11, 2023 at 9:56 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Two out in the third

Thompson is at third. Wainwright at 40 pitches and trying to keep the score at 1-0.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 9:52 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Thompson with another XBH

First a homer, now a double. Team GB threatening to begin the third.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 9:50 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Worley through two scoreless

It's still 1-0 GB. Worley is at 45 pitches, putting him 20 away from the cap.

[Mar 11, 2023 at 9:44 pm ET · R.J. Anderson]

Realmuto doubles

With one out in the second, the Americans have the tying run in scoring position.