The score says it all as the San Francisco Giants defeated Team USA on Wed Mar 8, 2023 at Scottsdale in the World Baseball Classic (@SFGiants photo)

On the Giants podcast with Michael:

#1 World Baseball Classic has sprung at spring training in a huge way just from the marketing aspect how brilliant of an idea was it to have it simultaneously with the Cactus League.

#2 The Giants hosted Team USA at Scottsdale on Wednesday and defeated them 5-1. Team USA had on hand manager Mark DeRosa, the players Nolan Arenado, Kyle Tucker, Trea Turner, JT Realmuto, and Jeff McNeil.

#3 Team USA is picked as one of the favorites along with Japan and the Dominican Republic. Japan had won in 2006 and 2009 in the WBC.

#4 It was the pitching that made the difference for the Giants win with Anthony DeSclafani, Sean Manaea, Scott Alexander, John Brebbia, and Mauricio Llovera. Alexander, Brebbia and Llovera threw shutout ball in the last three innings.

#5 Paul Goldschmidt whose haunted the Giants in the past lead off in the sixth and hit a home run off Manaea. Goldschmidt was the NL MVP in 2022 for Team USA’s only run.

Join Michael Duca for the Giants podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com