PHOENIX, March 8 (UPI) -- Chris Colabello had four hits, including a three-run home run that ignited the Italian offense to a 14-4 World Baseball Classic win over Canada in Phoenix.
Calabello's home run came in a four-run second inning. Canada pulled within 6-4 in the seventh but Italy scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and five in the eighth to invoke the 10-run WBC mercy rule.
Italy, which beat Mexico in the Pool D opener Thursday, is a surprising 2-0 in the round-robin play and can wrap up a spot in the WBC second round with a win Saturday against the United States. Canada and Mexico are both 1-1 in group play and the United States opened its play later Friday against Mexico.
Italy piled up 17 hits, with Colabello going 4-for-5 with four runs batted in and three runs scored. Every player in the Italian lineup had at least one hit -- seven had at least two -- except designated hitter Anthony Rizzo. He had two walks and scored two runs.
Alex Maestri (1-0) pitched the first three innings for Italy, allowing one run on three hits in picking up the win. Canada starter Shawn Hill (0-1) gave up two runs on two hits and a walk and took the loss.
After Canada got to 6-4 Italy's Drew Butera had a two-run double in the seventh and Mike Costanzo and Mario Chiarini back back-to-back two-run doubles in the eighth that put Italy up by 10.
