Canadian victory shocks US stars

Canada celebrate their unexpected win over the US in Arizona

A Canadian team of minor leaguers and unknowns stunned a strong US line-up 8-6 to leave them close to crashing out of the first World Baseball Classic.

American fans booed as their team fell 8-0 behind in Phoenix before a late rally which failed to turn the game.

"Everybody feels like they got kicked in the stomach," said US manager Buck Martinez. "The players have a lot of pride. It's a tough feeling right now."

A Mexican win against Canada could see the Americans out of the event.

If Mexico beat the Canadians 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 then both would own a tiebreak edge and the US team would be eliminated.

"It's definitely crushing," said US catcher Jason Varitek, who hit a grand slam home run in a losing cause. "We have our backs against the wall now."

Adam Stern, who played 36 games for Boston last year, starred for Canada with a triple and a home run, plus a leaping catch to stop the US tying the score in the eighth inning.

"Stern had the game of his life," said Canada starting pitcher Adam Loewen, who has never played higher than three levels below the major leagues.

Stern added: "That was a huge game. We'd like to tell everyone we can play baseball too, not just (ice) hockey."