Canada beats Cuba to advance in WBC for 1st time

At long last, Canada has advanced in the World Baseball Classic.

The Canadians clinched a berth in the WBC quarterfinals for the first time with a 7-2 win over Cuba in the Pool A finale at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

Canada bounced back from a tough loss to Panama by beating both Puerto Rico, which had already clinched a quarterfinal spot, and Cuba in its final two games to win Pool A. The Canadians earned first place by virtue of holding the head-to-head tiebreaker over Puerto Rico.

Canada will next face the runner-up from Pool B - one of Mexico, Italy, or the United States - at Houston's Daikin Park on either Thursday or Friday. Puerto Rico will face the Pool B winner, also in Houston.

This year marks the first time that Canada, a participant in all six WBCs, has ever advanced out of the first round. In previous years, it had run into roadblocks while in a pool with the U.S. and Mexico.

Abraham Toro led the way Wednesday for Canada, going 3-for-5 with a homer that stood up as the game-winning run. Owen Caissie added two RBIs, bringing his career WBC total to nine - a new Canadian record.

Starter Cal Quantrill was brilliant, allowing just one unearned run on two hits over five innings while striking out five. Indigo Diaz, Adam Macko, James Paxton, and Eric Cerantola followed him out of the bullpen to preserve Canada's win.

"We're not here for a participation ribbon," Quantrill said postgame, per Sportsnet's Shi Davidi.

Cuba, meanwhile, failed to advance out of the group stage for the first time in WBC history. The Cubans had reached the quarterfinals in each of the five previous tournaments, including a semifinal berth in 2023.

Cuba would have moved on with a win Wednesday. Instead, it threw away the game almost immediately, starting with ace Lívan Moinelo being called for two consecutive pitch-clock violations in the first inning. The Cubans also committed three errors, including sixth-inning gaffes by catcher Andrys Perez and second baseman Yiddi Cappe, helping the Canadians break it open.