Instant Reaction: Canada beats Cuba 7-2 to win Pool A

"With everything on the line Wednesday afternoon in San Juan, Team Canada delivered the biggest win in program history, defeating Cuba 7-2 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. For the first time since the tournament began in 2006, Canada has broken through pool play."

"The result sends Canada to the knockout stage for the first time in six World Baseball Classic appearances, and they did it with one of their most complete performances of the tournament. Canada finished Pool A at 3-1, good enough not only to advance but to capture the first seed in the group over Puerto Rico thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker."

"Cuba entered the game with one of its strongest arms starting in Liván Moinelo, who put up a 1.46 ERA across 167 innings in the NPB in 2025, but he ran into early trouble. The left-hander struggled with the tournament's pitch clock early in the first inning and was called for multiple violations as he tried to settle into the game."

Canada achieved a historic victory over Cuba 7-2 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium, breaking through pool play for the first time since the World Baseball Classic began in 2006. The win secured Canada's advancement to the quarterfinals and the first seed in Pool A, surpassing Puerto Rico via head-to-head tiebreaker after defeating them 3-2 the previous day. Canada finished pool play 3-1 and reached the knockout stage for the first time in six World Baseball Classic appearances. Cuba's starting pitcher Liván Moinelo, a star of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with a 1.46 ERA, struggled early with pitch clock violations. Canada scored first in the third inning when Owen Caissie hit a sacrifice fly, with Tyler O'Neill and Abraham Toro contributing key hits. Caissie emerged as Canada's offensive catalyst throughout the tournament.

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