CHINA – For three innings the Chinese played world-class baseball. Unfortunately, the game was just getting started.

Chris Begg and two relievers combined on an eight-hit shutout and Scott Thorman belted a three-run shot to lead Canada past China, 10-0 on Wednesday at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The secretive Chinese squad, who wore blank jerseys in an exhibition game against Team USA, finally came unwrapped under American skipper Jim Lefebvre and played solid early against a Canadian squad that won the Final Olympic Qualifier earlier this year.

Chinese starting pitcher Tao Bu and Begg locked up in an unlikely scoreless duel until the bottom of the fourth when Thorman put Canada on top with a three-run homer. A two-run fifth inning spelled the end for Bu who was replaced by reliever Kai Lu, who walked four but did not give up a hit or a run in 1 1/3 innings on the mound.

Canada plated a run in the seventh to go up 6-0 before putting the game away in the eighth with four more runs that was highlighted by Mike Saunders solo blast of Weiliang Li.

Begg (1-0) struck out nine while scattering six hits over 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win while reliever Tim Burton recorded one out before Rheal Cormier fanned three of the four batters he faced in the eighth. Bu (0-1) was charged with the setback after surrendering five runs and seven hits in only 4 1/3 innings.

Sanders and Jimmy Vanostrand each had two hits for Canada while Thorman, who was plunked twice by Chinese pitchers, scored twice and drove in three RBI.

Lei Li paced China with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate while Lingfeng Sun, Fei Feng and Wei Wang each smacked a double.

The Chinese (0-1) will meet Korea on Thursday before Canada (1-0) clashes with the defending champions from Cuba later in the day.

Tags: Canada, China