Nope, Canada still hasn’t erased its biggest shame in the World Baseball Classic. But this time, the Canadians can feel extremely proud of their efforts – and the biggest prize in Pool A remains.
Canada recorded a landmark victory March 10, defeating host Puerto Rico 3-2 before a rain-soaked, raucous crowd at Estadio Bithorn.
They had precious little to cheer on this night: Three Canada pitchers held Puerto Rico to five hits, just one for extra bases, while a pair of bases-loaded walks in the third put the Canadians ahead for good.
And now, the stakes: Canada (2-1) plays Cuba (2-1) in the final Pool A game March 11. The winner advances to join Puerto Rico (3-1) in the quarterfinals, and a Canada win would also clinch the Pool A title; a Cuba victory sends Puerto Rico on to Houston as the Pool A champion.
In a sense, the clash against Puerto Rico meant much less; in the big picture, the Cuba battle would decide Canada’s fate. But after so many disappointments in the five previous versions of this tournament – always home after pool play – a win on hostile ground could not be underestimated.
The ultimate decisive run was scored by Miami Marlins outfielder Owen Caissie, who doubled and scored on Abraham Toro’s single in the fourth. Caissie is now 6 for 11 in this WBC.
And Brock Dykxhoorn covered the final three innings in perfect fashion for the save, picking up after Brock Balazovic and Logan Allen covered the first and middle three innings of the game.
Perfect symmetry, in a sense. And Canada can ensure a perfect outcome with one more win March 11.
USA TODAY Sports updated the game throughout:
His name is Brock Dykxhoorn, and he’s simply added to Canada’s highly impressive relief work in their Pool A showdown with Puerto Rico.
Dykxhoorn, out of affiliated baseball since 2018, tossed two perfect innings as Canada holds on to a 3-2 lead entering the ninth inning. Dykxhoorn, 31, has spent the past seven seasons pitching in South Korea and China and on this night, he deftly took the baton from Logan Allen as Canada has held Puerto Rico to just five hits.
He’s known as L.T. Allen in the various baseball databases because, well, at one time there were two Logan Allens pitching in the big leagues. But this Logan Allen has some Canadian lineage and helped carry their WBC entry closer to a huge victory.
Allen pitched three innings of four-hit, one-run relief to deliver Canada into the seventh inning with a 3-2 lead over Puerto Rico in this Pool A clash.
Allen took over for starter Jordan Balazovic after a 15-minute rain delay, and both tossed three strong innings to keep Canada’s pitching in shape. All the more important because a must-win looms tomorrow, when the club takes on Cuba in an effort to advance out of pool play for the first time in its WBC history.
The 15-minute weather hiccup did Puerto Rico some good. The squad greeted lefty reliever Logan Allen with consecutive singles by Nolan Arenado and Eddie Rosario, and pinch hitter Martín Maldonado provided an RBI groundout to cut Canada’s lead to 3-2 after four innings.
It was Arenado’s second hit of the night after his 0 for 10 start in this WBC.
See, it was just passing through.
The unpredictive weather in San Juan resulted in a game-starting delay of 45 minutes and then a 15-minute stoppage in the middle of the fourth inning. But the hard-working grounds crew at Estadio Hiram Bithorn pulled the tarp quickly and Canada trotted out lefty Logan Allen to take up for starter Jordan Balazovic.
Allen and the bullpen will protect a 3-1 lead.
Just as Canada found a groove against Puerto Rico, the testy San Juan weather reared its head again.
Puerto Rico and Canada’s showdown was delayed by rain a second time in the middle of the fourth inning, with Canada leading 3-1 at Estadio Hiram Bithorn. The game was already delayed about 45 minutes at the outset as game officials awaited rainy weather moving through.
Fans popped up the umbrellas on multiple occasions in the first three innings and this delay isn’t expected to be long. After all, if you don’t like it, just wait 10 minutes.
Owen Caissie, the erstwhile top Cubs prospect turned great Marlins hope, is putting on a show for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
Caissie led off the top of the fourth with a double – his fifth hit in 10 at-bats – and Abraham Toro followed with an RBI single off reliever Raymond Burgos as Canada took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fourth.
Canada starter Jordan Balazovic has calmed down after the first inning, giving up just one hit over three innings
José De León looked primed to complete three perfect innings against Canada, with two outs and No. 9 hitter Denzel Clarke at the plate. But Clarke and leadoff man Edouard Julien singled, De León hit Josh Naylor with a pitch to load the bases and suddenly, his night was done.
And after Canadian slugger Tyler O’Neill prevailed in a battle of Baltimore Orioles, drawing a bases-loaded walk after falling down 0-2 to Rico Garcia to tie the game, Tyler Black followed with another free pass as Canada took a 2-1 lead into the middle of the third inning.
Julien’s hit was his first in the WBC in 10 at-bats, extending the inning enough to create a little something for Canada.
Puerto Rico’s pitching staff is once again looking untouchable. That’s nothing new for José De León.
The 33-year-old right-hander is perfect through two innings against Canada, striking out top Marlins prospect Owen Caissie to push the game to the bottom of the second with Puerto Rico up 1-0. De León has now run his record of WBC perfection to 7 2/3 innings – he pitched 5 2/3 perfect innings with 10 strikeouts against Israel in his lone start in 2023 for the Boricua.
The most accomplished player on the Puerto Rican roster had yet to contribute tangibly with the bat. Yet it only took Nolan Arenado one at-bat to change that against Canada – and give Puerto Rico a 1-0 lead.
Arenado lined a single to center off Canadian starter Jordan Balazovic, scoring Bryan Torres, who drew the first of two walks to begin the bottom of the first. Heliot Ramos was thrown out at third on the play, short-circuiting a bigger rally.
It was Arenado’s first hit in 11 at-bats, his WBC average still saddled at .091. Yet he’s contributed plenty with his glove at third and had a big sacrifice fly in their win over Panama. And now, he’s on the board with a hit.
Arenado later added a nice sliding play in foul ground, showing off his defensive form that won nine Gold Gloves.
A light rain is falling at Estadio Hiram Bithorn and Puerto Rico and Canada will begin in a delay. First pitch is now scheduled for 7:50 ET. The venerable San Juan stadium is the lone WBC site not climate-controlled, and three games – including Puerto Rico and Cuba the night before – have been delayed by rain.
Both teams change up behind the plate, as Liam Hicks will start at catcher in place of Bo Naylor and Christian Vazquez supplants Martín Maldonado for Puerto Rico.
SP – RHP Jordan Balazovic
Pitchers: Raymond Burgos LHP, Fernando Cruz RHP, José De León RHP, Edwin Díaz RHP, José Espada RHP, Rico Garcia RHP, Jorge López RHP, Seth Lugo RHP, Jovani Morán LHP, Luis Quiñones RHP, Ángel Reyes RHP, Yacksel Ríos RHP, Eduardo Rivera LHP, Elmer Rodríguez RHP, Gabriel Rodríguez LHP, Ricardo Velez RHP
Catchers: Martín Maldonado, Christian Vázquez
Infielders: Nolan Arenado, Edwin Arroyo, Darell Hernáiz, Emmanuel Rivera, Luis Vázquez
Outfielders: Willi Castro, Carlos Cortes, Matthew Lugo, MJ Melendez, Heliot Ramos, Eddie Rosario, Bryan Torres
Pitchers: Logan Allen, Micah Ashman, Phillippe Aumont, Jordan Balazovic, Eric Cerantola, Indigo Diaz, Brock Dykxhoorn, Antoine Jean, Adam Macko, James Paxton, Cal Quantrill, Noah Skirrow, Michael Soroka, Jameson Taillon, Matt Wilkinson, Rob Zastryzny
Catchers: Bo Naylor, Liam Hicks
Infielders: Josh Naylor, Edouard Julien, Abraham Toro, Otto Lopez, Tyler Black, Matt Davidson, Adam Hall
Outfielders: Tyler O’Neill, Owen Caissie, Denzel Clarke, Jacob Robson, Jared Young
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