It’s finally happened.
For the first time since the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, yesterday’s victory against Cuba propelled Canada into the quarterfinals for the first time in tournament history.
Ernie Whitt, Canada’s manager in all six WBCs, had a short but emotional response when he first sat down for media availability.
“I’m very excited about it, needless to say,” Whitt told reporters, including MLB.com’s Matt Monagan. “It’s been a long haul.”
On the flip side, this is the first time Cuba has not advanced past pool play since the WBC began 20 years ago. They reached the championship game in 2006 but fell 10-6 to Japan.
Owen Caissie opened the scoring for Canada at the top of the third inning with a sacrifice fly against Cuba’s ace, Livan Moinelo. In the fifth, Abraham Toro launched a solo home run off Yariel Rodriguez to extend Canada’s lead to 2-0.
Cuba plated a run in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings, but misplays and errors contributed to three unearned runs crossing the plate for Canada in the sixth. Second baseman Yiddi Cappe botched a routine pop-up, Rodriguez attempted a pickoff throw to first base that got past first baseman Yoel Yanqui, and backstop Andrys Perez was called for catcher’s interference.
Later in the frame, Bo Naylor (RBI double) and Otto Lopez (two-run single) took advantage of Cuba’s poor defensive work to extend their club’s lead to 5-1.
Moinelo, the MVP of Nippon Professional Baseball’s Pacific League in 2025 with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, struggled with command and was called for three pitch timer violations, which led to extended, unfriendly conversations between Cuba manager German Mesa and home plate umpire Tripp Gibson. The left-hander walked three and struck out four in 3 ⅔ innings of one-run ball.
Right-hander Cal Quantrill looked poised yet determined in his five innings for Canada. The 31-year-old is a non-roster invite at spring training with the Texas Rangers and delivered a gem. He struck out five and allowed just two hits.
Josh Naylor (eighth inning) and Caissie (ninth inning) added a pair of RBI singles as insurance for Canada’s bullpen, which included a 2 ⅔ inning, six-strikeout performance from lefty James Paxton.
Canada’s Upcoming Quarterfinals Schedule
All Times Eastern Standard Time
Friday, March 12
8 p.m. – Canada vs. United States – Daikin Park – TV: FOX – It’s a rematch of the men’s hockey Olympic gold medal game as the underdog Canada travels to Houston for a battle against one of the best lineups in tournament history.
Photo: Canada’s pitcher Brock Dykxhoorn, left, shakes hand with the catcher Liam Hicks at the end of a World Baseball Classic game against Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
