Canada beats Puerto Rico, controls destiny heading into Pool A finale

Canada shook off Sunday's tough loss to Panama by defeating Puerto Rico 3-2 on Tuesday at the World Baseball Classic at Hiram Bithorn Stadium.

The win means the Canadians control their own destiny heading into the Pool A finale against Cuba (2-1) on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.

Canada will clinch the top spot in Pool A and advance out of the first round for the first time in WBC history with a win over Cuba, while Puerto Rico, already qualified for the next round, will finish second. That scenario would set up a quarterfinal matchup between Canada and the Pool B runner-up, with Puerto Rico taking on the Pool B winner. However, the Canadians will be eliminated if they lose to Cuba.

"We're looking forward to (playing Cuba)," Canada outfielder Tyler O'Neill said postgame. "It's gonna be a dogfight. They're a great team. We're gonna do our best to come out, play hard, and we'll see what happens."

Canada fought back from an early 1-0 deficit Tuesday when O'Neill and Tyler Black drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks in the third inning to take a 2-1 lead. Abraham Toro drove in what stood up as the winning run with a fourth-inning RBI single.

Puerto Rico cut the deficit to one run in the bottom of the fourth on Martín Maldonado's pinch-hit RBI groundout but couldn't get any closer. Brock Dykxhoorn, who pitches for Taiwan's Uni-President Lions, shut out the Puerto Ricans over the final three innings to lock down Canada's victory.

"He pitched extremely well," manager Ernie Whitt said of Dykxhoorn, who was one of the final additions to Team Canada, according to Sportsnet's Hazel Mae. "He was on our radar. Our pitching ... you couldn't ask for more. The three guys (Dykxhoorn, starter Jordan Balazovic, and Logan Allen) stepped up and held a good club in check."

Cal Quantrill, a seven-year big-league veteran, will start Wednesday afternoon's game for Canada. He'll face Cuban ace Lívan Moinelo, who won the Pacific League MVP in Japan last season.