Canada beats Cuba 7-2 to reach World Baseball Classic quarterfinals for first time
Canada achieved a historic milestone by advancing to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic for the first time after defeating Cuba 7-2, clinching first place in Pool A with a 3-1 record. Key performances included Abraham Toro’s home run and strong pitching from Cal Quantrill and James Paxton.
Canada reached the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic for the first time in tournament history with a 7-2 victory over Cuba on Wednesday at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The win-or-go-home result secured first place in Pool A for Canada, which finished group play with a 3-1 record. Cuba was eliminated with a 2-2 mark, marking the first time the nation has failed to advance beyond the opening round of the tournament.
Canada and Puerto Rico will both move on to the quarterfinals in Houston later this week.
Toro and Lopez lead Canada’s offense
Abraham Toro provided a key moment for Canada with a solo home run, while Otto Lopez delivered a two-run single during a decisive sixth inning.
The Canadians broke the game open in that frame with three runs, taking advantage of several defensive mistakes by Cuba to extend their lead.
Bo Naylor and Josh Naylor also drove in runs, while Owen Caissie added two RBIs to support the Canadian offense.
Strong pitching secures the victory
Starter Cal Quantrill set the tone for Canada with five innings of one-run baseball.
The bullpen preserved the lead from there, highlighted by veteran left-hander James Paxton, who struck out six batters across 2⅔ scoreless innings in relief.
Canada’s pitching staff limited Cuba’s scoring opportunities throughout the game, allowing only two runs.
Canada wins Pool A
With the victory, Canada finished atop Pool A ahead of Puerto Rico, which also advanced to the knockout stage.
The result marks a milestone for Canadian baseball. Despite participating in every World Baseball Classic since the tournament’s debut in 2006, the national team had never previously advanced past the first round.
Canada will now face the runner-up from Pool B in the quarterfinals at Daikin Park in Houston.
Group B drama continues
Elsewhere in the tournament, the final standings in Pool B remained unsettled heading into the matchup between Italy and Mexico.
The outcome of that game could determine whether the United States advances to the knockout round, adding further drama to the final day of group play.
Two other tournament heavyweights, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, were set to face off in Miami in a highly anticipated matchup featuring several MLB stars.
