MIAMI — There was no suspense, no drama, not even a marching band to liven things up Sunday evening, turning and by the second inning, the final game of Round 1 of the World Baseball Classic at Marlins Park, the World Baseball Classic finale at Marlins Park into a mundane spring training game..

Ah, dull never felt so good in the good ol’ USA.

Team USA, after two harrowing days in South Florida, finally were able to exhale Sunday night, manhandling Canada, 8-0, and earning a berth in the second round of the WBC at Petco Park in San Diego.

USA, which needed to beat Canada to avert a tie-breaking scenario, jumped all over former major-league pitcher Ryan Dempster,

scoring seven runs in the first two innings, and never looked back, cruising to their most lopsided WBC victory since beating Venezuela, 15-6, in 2009.

“Relieved,’’ USA manager Jim Leyland said. “Obviously there was a little less excitement here than there was [Saturday] night, but still the players were excited.’’

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It’s just what Team USA needed, after winning 3-2 in 10 innings against Colombia, and blowing a five-run lead and losing 7-5 Saturday to the Dominican Republic. They now will have two days off to reset their emotions before playing again Wednesday night against the runner-up in Pool D from Mexico.

“I think that a lot of people, the expectations for the Team USA are high,’’ Leyland said, “and I tried to downplay that. But it’s a thrill to get out of here.

“It wasn’t easy, to be honest with you.’’

The United States say they learned a lot about themselves in their three-day excursion to Florida, and believe they are more equipped to handle their emotions in a hostile  environment, knowing they will be facing the powerful Dominican Republic at least one more time.

The Dominican Republic will be the prohibitive favorite to win back-to-back titles, winning 11 consecutive WBC games, last losing eight years ago.

“You look at our team,’’ Dominican third baseman Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles says, “and you see Future Hall of Famers, multiple All-Stars. I mean, it’s just an unbelievable group we have here.’’

Still, they nearly lost Sunday afternoon to Colombia, escaping with a 10-3, 11-inning victory. If the Dominican Republic had lost the game, Colombia would have advanced to San Diego as the top seed under the complicated tie-breaking procedures. Team USA would have had to play the Dominican Republic in a tiebreaker Monday for the final berth.

Needless to say, the United States had no aspirations to stick around town another day and take their chances against the most powerful lineup in the land.

“I don’t think it’s one of those situations,’’ Leyland said, “well, we can’t wait to get another shot at those guys. I don’t think they think like that. I think they know the Dominican Republic is a top-to-bottom fearsome lineup. We’re going to play them.

“We did have a 5-0 lead on them, so it wasn’t like we were intimidated or embarrassed by anything. We had our shot and we just didn’t quite get it done.’’

Team USA’s biggest stress this evening was just waiting inside an auxiliary clubhouse most of the afternoon watching the 4 hour, 44-minute Dominican Republic-Colombia game. When the game finally ended, there was no time for batting practice, and barely enough time to get dressed.

“I like to think I’m pretty microwavable before games,’’ USA starter Danny Duffy said, “so I’ll get out there and go run out to center field, and do it like the old way. When we got in

anything. We had our shot and we just didn’t quite get it done.’’

Team USA’s biggest stress this evening was just waiting inside an auxiliary clubhouse most of the afternoon watching the 4 hour, 44-minute Dominican Republic-Colombia game. When the game finally ended, there was no time for batting practice, and barely enough time to get dressed.

“I like to think I’m pretty microwavable before games,’’ USA starter Danny Duffy said, “so I’ll get out there and go run out to center field, and do it like the old way. When we got in there, I looked up and it was 6:36, and I was on the field at 6:38.”

And throwing the first pitch at 7:08 p.m.

Duffy, the ace of the Kansas City Royals, promptly went out and suffocated the Canadian lineup, yielding just two hits and striking out seven in four innings. It was simply a continuation of the USA’s starting domination. The rotation pitched 12 2/3 scoreless innings in Miami, yielding just five hits while striking out 14 batters with no walks and a hit batter. Chris Archer, Marcus Stroman and Duffy, who never pitched more than 4 2/3 innings in the first round, now will have their pitch limit expanded to 85 pitches. Drew Smyly will pitch the opener in San Diego.

Leyland, who leaned on his relievers for 15 1/3 innings in Miami, also will have a fresh bullpen. The lineup certainly has been erratic, with six of his regulars failing to produce more than one hit. Still, just the mere experience alone of playing together for three games, and knowing the atmosphere and adversity they could face when playing the Dominican Republic and its zealous fan base again, they believe they’ll be much more prepared.

“That’s an atmosphere that I’ve truthfully never been a part of,’’ Duffy said. “It was the loudest I’ve ever heard any place ever. And it’s a different style of fan base, they have a different approach to the game. Their passion for baseball and their country is pretty awesome.

“In the next round, I think that we’ll be a little bit more polished.’’

The USA has advanced to the second round all three times in this tournament, but only once survived to reach the semifinals. They have lost seven of their 11 games played after the first round.

This time, they vow different results.

“There’s no doubt we’re taking it real serious,’’ said USA third baseman Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies, who calls this tournament the greatest playing experience of his career. “I’m diving headfirst into first. I mean, I don’t know how serious I can take it other than that.

“We’re not here to mess around. I didn’t sign up for this to just have a good time. I came here to compete, and here to win, and I think we’re doing the best we can. If we keep having the same attitude like we have, good things will happen.’’

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Gallery: Best pictures from the WBC