U.S. UNFIT TO BE TIED VARITEK SLAM COULD HELP IN TIEBREAKERS CANADA 8, USA 6.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer

PHOENIX - Though it appears none of the U.S. players understood its impact at the time, Jason Varitek's grand slam in a losing effort against Canada might end up keeping them alive in the World Baseball Classic.

Team USA's 8-6 upset loss to Canada on Wednesday at Chase Field forces the Americans to worry about tiebreakers as the time nears to eliminate two of the four teams in round-robin Pool B. First, though, the team of superstars will have to learn what those tiebreakers are.

``The only thing we know is that we've got to beat South Africa (Friday in Scottsdale) and score a lot of runs,'' Alex Rodriguez said.

Well, not exactly.

``If Mexico wins 1-0 (against Canada),'' a writer told Rodriguez, ''you're eliminated.''

``S---!,'' said a surprised A-Rod.

The U.S. has more ways to advance to the second round of pool play in Anaheim on March 12-16 than to be eliminated. This is all written assuming the U.S. will win Friday against South Africa, the group's weakest team.

--The U.S. advances if Canada (with Jeff Francis starting) beats Mexico (Esteban Loaiza) tonight at Chase Field. Canada would win the pool with a 3-0 record and the 2-1 U.S. edges 1-2 Mexico for second place.

--The U.S. also advances if Mexico beats Canada and scores three or more runs. Each would have a 2-1 record, the U.S. would trump Mexico by virtue of having won their meeting 2-0 Tuesday, and the U.S. would edge Canada in the secondary tiebreaker comparing runs allowed in games involving the three teams. Canada has given up six runs going into tonight's game, while the United States is locked in with eight.

--The U.S. team is out of the event - before even suiting up Friday - if Mexico beats Canada tonight by a score of 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. And there goes a lot of American public interest in the event as well.

It could get more complicated than that, but that's the gist.

This is why U.S. catcher Varitek's 448-foot homer to center in the fifth inning as the first batter faced by Canada reliever (and former Angel) Eric Cyr was huge even though it merely chopped an 8-2 Canada margin to 8-6. Had Canada not given up those runs, it would have a stranglehold on the crucial tiebreaker.

The U.S. trailed 8-0 after Adam Stern's inside-the-park homer in the top of the fifth.

The favorites of most of the crowd of 16,993 scored all six of its runs in the bottom of the fifth. Michael Young beat out a leadoff single against Canada starter Adam Loewen, Ken Griffey Jr. drove in a run an out later with his second double of the game, Derrek Lee knocked in one with a bloop single, Chipper Jones singled up the middle and Vernon Wells walked an out later to load the bases for Varitek.

Now, in a scenario the U.S. players never envisioned, their hopes depend on Canada and Mexico.

``We haven't even thought about the situation,'' U.S. manager Buck Martinez said. ''We'll regroup and get ready for Friday night.''

If only it were that simple.

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Photo:

Ryan Radmanovich rounds the bases as Canada takes an 8-0 lead against Team USA.

Christian Peterson/Getty Images