Canada beats Puerto Rico 3-2, can set WBC history with win over Cuba on Wednesday

Canada's Edouard Julien tags Puerto Rico's Matthew Lugo, right, out at second base during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic game in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

SAN JUAN — Team Canada was gifted two runs off of bases-loaded walks in the third inning and then leaned on defence and pitching to do the rest as it knocked off host Puerto Rico 3-2 at the World Baseball Classic tournament on Tuesday night.

Canada, which improves to 2-1 in Pool A, plays Cuba (2-1) on Wednesday in a must-win game. Puerto Rico, which leads Pool A, slipped to 3-1. Colombia and Panama are both 1-3.

Canada has a chance to to not only advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in WBC history, but also securing top spot in Pool A should it beat Cuba.

Puerto Rico opened the scoring in the first inning, taking advantage of back-to-back walks given up by Canadian starter Jordan Balazovic. Nolan Arenado hit and RBI single to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Canada went ahead 2-1 in the third inning as Puerto Rico pitcher Rico Garcia walked Tyler O’Neill with the bases loaded to score Denzel Clarke. Then Garcia walked Tyler Black to force home Edouard Julien.

Canada went up 3-1 in the fourth inning as Abraham Toro’s RBI single scored Owen Caissie, who had a pair of doubles and a walk. Caissie is also hitting .545 in three games.

Puerto Rico got one back in the bottom half of the inning as Martin Maldonado grounded out to second to score Arenado.

Both teams finished the rain-delayed contest with five hits.

Balazovic pitched three innings of one-hit ball for Canada and got the win. He had four strikeouts and gave up three walks. Logan Allen pitched three innings, giving up four hits and one run. He had two strikeouts. And Brock Dykxhoorn finished it off with three dominant scoreless innings.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2026.