March 4, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Canadian second baseman Tyler Black (7) catches the second ball in the bottom of the second inning and forces an out in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies held at Bay Care Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Image Canada outscored Puerto Rico 3-2 in a Pool A game Tuesday night in San Juan thanks to patience at the plate and a tight bullpen.
Canada improved its record to 2-1 while Puerto Rico fell to 3-1, setting up Canada’s decisive showdown against Cuba (2-1) on Wednesday. If Canada beats Cuba, it will advance to the WBC quarterfinals for the first time and take first place in Group A, tied with Puerto Rico but maintaining a tiebreaker. A loss would drop Canada at 2-2 and behind Puerto Rico and Cuba.
Puerto Rico took the lead in the opener when Nolan Arenado hit a single up the middle to score the first run of the game. Canada answered without much swing, scoring twice in the third inning on back-to-back RBI walks to Tyler O’Neill and Tyler Black.
The decisive run came one inning later. Owen Caissie doubled and scored on Abraham Toro’s single to right for a 3-1 advantage. Puerto Rico gave up a run in the second half on Martin Maldonado’s RBI grounder, but it was the last time either team crossed the plate.
Canadian starter Jordan Balazovic allowed one hit and one run through the first three innings with three walks and four strikeouts. Logan Allen and Brock Dykxhoorn each pitched three innings and Canada earned the save. Puerto Rican starter Jose de Leon allowed two runs and two hits over 2 2/3 innings, and six relievers finished.
Israel 6, Netherlands 2
Israel defeated the Netherlands in a tight game, allowing 5 runs in 6 innings, in the Group D match held in Miami. Both teams were eliminated from pre-match knockout round competition.
Jake Gelof’s two-run single gave Israel the lead, followed by Matt Mervis’ two-run double. Both teams finished Pool D play, with Israel in third place with a 2-2 record and the Netherlands in fourth place with a 1-3 record.
The Netherlands scored early, scoring two runs in the first inning on a fielder’s choice by Xander Bogaerts and a sacrifice fly by Didi Gregorius. Israel tied the game at 2-2 in the second when Gelof doubled home off Noah Mendlinger and finally tied it in the sixth on RJ Schreck’s RBI single.
–Field level media
