Team USA fans jubilant after thumping 6-2 win over Great Britain in World Baseball Classic opener: "You cant beat us in our sport"

Defending World Baseball Classic champion Team USA opened their title defense with a 6-2 win against tournament debutant Great Britain on Saturday. The USA overcame an early scare by the upset-minded British to put the game out of reach on a three-run home run by Kyle Schwarber in the fourth inning.

Schwarber spoke of his difference-making homer with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports after the game, saying:

"It's definitely a moment that you're not going to forget."

Great Britain put the USA on its heels right off the bat as Trayce Thompson took USA starter Adam Wainright deep for a game-opening home run that put the British up 1-0.

The USA took a 2-1 lead in the third before Schwarber's blast all but settled matters in the eventual four-run victory.

Schwarber told Rosenthal of the early scare:

"For us, we've all seen a lot of games, if you just stay the course and trust what you got, good things are going to happen."

For American fans, the victory was more than enough reason to feel jingoistic.

Team USA has a long history of defeating Great Britain when they aren't teaming up to defeat other nations.

Great Britain did itself proud in the loss, however. No one expected the Brits to hold a lead for two innings, much less win the game. Many expected the United States to "mercy rule" Great Britain in which a game can end if one team is up by 15 runs after five innings or 10 runs after seven innings. The British hung in there, and if not for Schwarber's moonshot, the game is a squeaker.

It's possible that the USA overlooked Great Britain with a highly anticipated and sold-out grudge match against Team Mexico coming up on Sunday. But one thing is for certain, the USA will not be able to take Mexico as lightly as they may have taken Great Britain.

Team USA seeking to join Japan as the only two-time World Baseball Classic champions

General view of action as relief pitcher Ryan Long #35 of Team Great Britain pitches against Trea Turner #8 of Team USA during the World Baseball Classic

There has only been one two-time champion in the World Baseball Classic to date. Team Japan won the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009. If the USA wins this season, they will join Japan not only as the only two-time winners but also as back-to-back champions.