Phoenix, AZ (March 10, 2013) - It was a beautiful day for a ballgame at Chase Field. Many local fans have never been to a game with the roof open; Phoenix is just too hot during baseball season. But today was cool and sunny, so they had the top down, and you could see the MetLife blimp flying around the stadium.

(I ended up racing the blimp to the ballpark. I saw it tethered at the Goodyear Airport on my way to Estrella Mountain Regional Park for a morning hike. On my way back, I saw it lift off and head west. I figured it was going to the game, like me. It floated along I-10 beside me as I drove. I passed it around Exit 137. By the time I found a place to park my car, it had arrived at Chase Field.)

It was a great game. I've been to several WBC games this year, and the intensity is amazing. Especially compared to spring training games, where the starters are all pulled in the fifth. And this game had it all on the line: winner goes to round 2, loser goes home.

After a tight back and forth game, the US took a solid lead in the top of the ninth. They were leading by five runs, so it wasn't really a closing situation. There was roar when the crowd realized who was pitching the bottom of the ninth: Craig Kimbrel.

He struck out Tyson Gillies and got a line out from Taylor Green.

Last hope for Canada: Joey Votto.

Alas, Joey did not do so well. Never took the bat off his shoulder. Two balls, three strikes, all looking.

Catcher Jonathan Lucroy congratulates Kimbrel.

Celebration time for Team USA.

Final score: USA 9, Canada 4.