PHOENIX (AP) – A pair of big swings and a parade of strong arms got the United States off to a successful start in the World Baseball Classic.

Derrek Lee and Chipper Jones homered, Jake Peavy and six U.S. relievers combined on a four-hitter and Team USA beat Mexico 2-0 Tuesday.

“Today I felt proud,” Lee said. “I felt like the whole country was watching.”

Lee hit a 1-1 pitch from starter Rodrigo Lopez over the right-field fence and Jones homered on the first pitch he saw in the tournament – off Oscar Villarreal in the seventh.

That was plenty of offense for the pitcher-heavy U.S. roster.

Peavy allowed one hit – an infield single by Karim Garcia that easily could have been ruled an error on second baseman Chad Utley to start the game. The 24-year-old San Diego Padres right-hander struck out three, throwing just 23 pitches. Mike Timlin, Chad Cordero, Dan Wheeler, Todd Jones, Joe Nathan and Brad Lidge each threw an inning of relief for the U.S. squad, which has 11 relievers on its roster.

“Our bullpen is ridiculous,” Lee said. “I kind of felt sorry for those guys having to face them.”

The U.S. pitchers combined for nine strikeouts and no walks.

No Mexican hitters got beyond first. Three baserunners were erased on double plays.

From the first pitch, it was apparent this was no spring training game.

The crowd of 32,727 at Chase Field – formerly known as Bank One Ballpark – was loud and lively with Mexican supporters waiving their red, white and green national flags and chanting “Me-xi-co! Me-xi-co!” When a U.S. batter got two strikes, there were shouts of “ponche” – strikeout.

“I thought it was awesome,” Jones said. “I thought it was electric. The Mexican fans brought a lot of electricity to the game.”

The United States had the first scoring threat when Randy Winn led off the third with a single to right. After two outs, Derek Jeter bounced a single up the middle to put runners at first and third. But Ken Griffey Jr. popped up to left to end the inning.

Lopez, a right-handed starter for the Baltimore Orioles, allowed one run and three hits in four innings, striking out one and walking one. The lone run he gave up was Lee’s two-out homer in the fourth.

“I was trying to throw a good fastball down and away,” Lopez said. “I just left it up a little bit. Like I say, this guy’s got tremendous power. This guy is an All-Star.”

The lead remained 1-0 until Jones replaced Alex Rodriguez at third in the top of the seventh. With one out, he hit the first pitch from his new Atlanta teammate Villarreal some 396 feet to the seats in left-center. “Just another huge thrill,” Jones said, “another career highlight.”

Pitchers can throw no more than 65 pitches per game in the first round because they still are in the spring training mode.

Mexico has defeated the United States only once in five tries since baseball became an Olympic sport.

That 2-1 victory in the 2003 Olympic qualifier in Panama denied the Americans a 2004 Olympic berth.