CHINA – Don’t count out Team USA just yet.

The Americans spotted Canada a 4-0 lead before scoring five unanswered runs to capture a thrilling 5-4 comeback win and rejuvenate their medal round hopes on Saturday at Wukesong Field 2.

Team USA (2-2) got a clutch pitching outing from left-hander Brian Duensing who retired 10 out of 11 hitters to earn his first Olympic victory. The loss dropped Canada to 1-3 and dimmed their medal round hopes.

The Canadians tagged starter Brett Anderson with a run in the second to grab an early 1-0 lead. Designated hitter Emerson Frostad drilled a shot off the left field wall that scored Nick Weglarz all the way from first base. Emmanuel Garcia’s RBI triple the next inning and Michael Saunders’ RBI groundout stretched the lead to 3-0.

A throwing error by Team USA shortstop Jason Donald and a pair of singles from Chris Robinson and Adam Stern in the fourth put Canada on top, 4-0, before the Americans chased starter James Avery in the bottom of the inning.

Second baseman Brian Barden led off the inning with a solo shot over the right field wall and John Gall added a run-scoring hit latrer in the inning to cut the lead to 4-2. Terry Tiffee smacked his fifth double of the Olympics the following inning scoring Dexter Fowler and pulling Team USA within a run.

Canada loaded the bases off Anderson in the sixth before Coach Davey Johnson summoned Duensing from the bullpen to face Stern with two outs. The Canadian worked the count full before the southpaw from Kansas froze him with a slider for a clutch strikeout to keep the Americans within range.

Team USA took the lead in the seventh thanks to a pair of RBI doubles from Barden and Tiffee. Duensing did the rest to secure the win and keep the Americans gold medal hopes alive.

Tags: Canada, USA