Behind Mayberry, Slayden, Phillies Slam Canadians

The Phillies gained another notch in the hopes of being complete world champions.

The Phils defeated the Canadian World Baseball Classic team, 9-2, behind home runs from John Mayberry Jr. and Jeremy Slayden. Mayberry went 2-for-3 and is now hitting .400 with seven RBI this spring. Raul Ibanez picked up three ribbies on a bases-clearing double, bringing his spring total to seven, as well.

The effort backed Cole Hamels, who pitched a scoreless two frames – his first of the spring. The Phils also received solid pitching performances from bullpen candidates Joe Borkowski, Jake Woods and Justin Lehr. Scott Eyre pitched a two-strikeout inning. Andrew Carpenter – looking like the first cut of the spring – surrendered two runs and walked four in his two innings.

The Phillies play Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and the cavalcade of stars known as the United States World Baseball Classic team tomorrow. The Americans lost to the Blue Jays today, 6-5, despite a two-run double by Rollins. Victorino, who also started, went 1-for-5.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.