PHOENIX — Representing his country in the World Baseball Classic meant so much to Michael Saunders that he hardly smiled when he was named Most Valuable Player.

Saunders, the young outfielder for the Seattle Mariners and Team Canada this week during first-round Pool D play at Chase Field, was smarting from the fresh wound of his club being knocked out of the tournament in a 9-4 loss to the United States on Sunday afternoon, after all.

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So while he might have been proud of his personal performance, he had his mind on bigger things. Team things.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Saunders said after receiving the trophy from former Major League manager Tony La Russa and players union representative Tony Clark. “However, it’s kind of a sour taste in my mouth right now. Whenever you represent your country, it really doesn’t matter how you do, as long as you win.”

Team Canada might not have won, but Saunders the individual was simply stunning over the course of the three games. He batted .727 (8-for-11), drove in seven runs, hit three doubles and a home run, which came Sunday afternoon off Team USA left-hander Derek Holland and gave his team a brief 2-0 lead, and scored four runs. He stole a base. He drew two walks. He even bunted for a single on Sunday.

It was a complete performance for a 6-foot-4, 215-pound 26-year-old with speed and power who began breaking out as an everyday player for Seattle last year and figures strongly into the Mariners’ plans in 2013. In fact, on a team with former American and National League MVPs Justin Morneau and Joey Votto in his own Canadian lineup, it was Saunders who left the most lasting impression.

“He’s a very talented man that probably doesn’t get the recognition that he deserves,” Team Canada manager Ernie Whitt said. “Playing in Seattle, they just don’t have the media coverage. But just a tremendous up and coming outfielder that’s going to be a superstar.”

His progress from 2011 to 2012 was a leap in the right direction. Saunders worked with hitting coach Mike Bard, the brother of former big league catcher Josh Bard, in the offseason of 2011 in Colorado to shorten his swing. He took a new approach and newfound confidence into 2012 and played his way into the lineup, hitting 19 home runs and stealing 21 bases in a career-high 507 at-bats.

There’s still work to do. Saunders struck out too much — 132 times, compared to 43 walks. He batted .247 and had an on-base percentage of .306. He knows he has to improve in those areas. But he also knows that he’s going to be starting in the Mariners’ outfield every day and hitting in the lineup every day. That’s a first in his career since he was selected by Seattle in the 11th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft.

And now the world knows how he handles playoff-like pressure. Not only was Saunders soaking in his first Classic, after missing out on the opportunity in 2009 because of an injury, but he was thrust into the heart of the batting order after third baseman Brett Lawrie went down with a strained rib cage days before Team Canada’s Pool D opener against Italy last Thursday.

“He’s improved each year,” said Team USA outfielder Adam Jones, who was in the Mariners’ Minor League system with Saunders until being traded to Baltimore prior to the 2009 season. “He’s a big kid. We joked before the game that he’s the smallest Canadian on the team. And he’s just he’s improved. He’s got a great opportunity for the Mariners right now.”

Saunders said he will get right back to that opportunity on Monday, when he’ll rejoin his team at its Spring Training complex in nearby Peoria, Ariz. He said he’s ready to get right back into a game. He also said he’ll cherish the time he spent with a team made up of players he’s known or idolized over the course of his development as a kid from Victoria, British Columbia, who always dreamed of being in the big leagues.

“Canadians and baseball, I always describe it as a tight fraternity,” Saunders said. “We may go our separate ways for a few years, but when we come back it’s like we haven’t skipped a beat. It’s going to be tough to leave these guys. We have a lot of fun playing the game, we play hard, we play it the right way.

“But I am looking forward to getting back into the clubhouse in Seattle and continuing to try to learn, and now my focus is with the Mariners and helping the Mariners win ballgames.”

Saunders might be leaving the World Baseball Classic stage, but his presence won’t soon be forgotten.

“He blew me away,” said Team Canada’s Sunday starter, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jameson Taillon. “Seriously. Sitting back and watching him play was incredible. … He can do it all.

“Seriously, he was fun to watch.”

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Reading

Aston Villa

• • Christian Benteke 33′
• • Gabriel Agbonlahor 45′

Agbonlahor’s strike ensured Villa claimed a vital victory

Aston Villa recovered from a calamitous Nathan Baker own goal to haul themselves out of the relegation places with a 2-1 victory at fellow strugglers Reading.

The Royals were gifted the lead on the half-hour when Baker made a complete hash of a routine clearance but on a day when neither defence was convincing it was not decisive.

Instead, Villa were level two minutes later when Christian Benteke fired in before Gabby Agbonlahor grabbed the winner in first-half injury time.

Both goals appeared preventable, especially Agbonlahor’s strike, after a goalmouth melee that saw third-choice goalkeeper Stuart Taylor scoop the ball to the winger after Barry Bannan’s deft touch hit a post.

Victory was just Villa’s second in their past 12 league games and moved them three points clear of danger.

Reading’s defeat – their second in succession at home against a relegation rival after they lost 3-0 to Wigan a fortnight ago – left them above last-placed QPR on goals scored only.

Villa boss Paul Lambert handed January signing Yacouba Sylla his first league start since his move from French second-tier side Clermont as he made three changes. Skipper Ron Vlaar and Barry Bannan also returned.

Reading made one enforced change with Hal Robson-Kanu coming in for the injured Jimmy Kebe.

During the week Reading boss Brian McDermott called for his side to make a fast start and they threatened twice inside the first five minutes.

Adam Le Fondre forced Brad Guzan to claw a header away after he peeled off his marker at the back post before delivering a cross that an unmarked Robson-Kanu mis-controlled.

Villa full-back Matthew Lowton was shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Jobi McAnuff but for all Reading’s early promise they almost fell behind after 12 minutes when Benteke rattled the crossbar with a header.

It was an entertaining start when caution might have been expected given the game’s relevance to the relegation fight.

It became clear, however, why both teams were reticent to sit back as both were guilty of horror defending before the first half finished.

Reading’s opener after 31 minutes will be consigned to the blooper reel as Baker was left red-faced by his bumbling generosity.

There appeared little danger, despite Hope Akpan helping McAnuff’s low cross on, but defending close to his line Baker horribly rushed his clearance.

It meant he completely missed the ball and watched on as it bounced off his standing leg and over the line.

Reading’s lead lasted barely two minutes though as they showed why they have conceded more goals than any other club in the Barclays Premier League this term.

The industrious Andreas Weimann was given acres of space down the right but instead of marking Benteke the home defenders rushed to the goal-line.

The Belgian astutely sat back for the pass and lashed in a shot that took a deflection off Stephen Kelly to ensure Taylor was beaten.

It got worse for the Royals, however, as they conceded in first-half injury time for the second successive game at home.

Again the goal looked preventable as first Kelly failed to properly clear following a patient build-up by Villa.

Lowton headed the ball across the six-yard box and while Bannan’s deft touch rebounded off the post Taylor could only help the loose ball to Agbonlahor to thump home.

Reading thought they were level 10 minutes after the re-start only for a marginal offside call to go against them.

Noel Hunt poked home at close range but if he was not offside Le Fondre, who was just in front of him, appeared to have just strayed.

McDermott then made a double substitution, bringing on Garath McCleary and Nick Blackman for Hunt and Akpan.

The changed was met with boos by the home fans but Blackman almost immediately levelled only to fire wide after first controlling with his chest.

The striker then headed over from a McCleary cross – Villa’s defence guilty of affording him too much space – as Reading began to step up a gear.

Villa were now content to attack on the break and Agbonlahor fizzed a shot just wide while substitute Charles N’Zogbia lashed over when well placed.

Reading kept pushing, with six of their past seven league goals having come after the 84th minute, but there was no late rally on this occasion as Robson-Kanu wasted the best of their late chances.