HOUSTON (Mar. 13) \u2014 A five-run lead in the sixth inning gave the United States a big enough cushion to withstand a rally and hold off Canada, 5\u20133, in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a great game,\u201d United States manager Mark DeRosa<\/a><\/strong> said postgame. \u201cCanada played hard. Great game all around.\u201d<\/p>\n The United States took a 1\u20130 lead with one out in the top of the first when, with runners on second and third, Kyle Schwarber<\/a><\/strong> ripped a hard shot towards first. Josh Naylor<\/a><\/strong>, with the infield playing it, deflected it. It bounced to second baseman Edouard Julien<\/a><\/strong>, who sprinted to first. He beat Schwarber to the bag, but Bobby Witt Jr.<\/a><\/strong> scored on the play.<\/p>\n It became a 3\u20130 game in the top of the third with the bases loaded and two outs. Alex Bregman<\/a><\/strong> hit a bouncer in the hole. Third baseman Abraham Toro<\/a><\/strong> dove to his left and gloved it. He popped up to his feet, planted, and fired to first. Bregman beat the throw, bringing in the second run. And the throw went high and into the Canadian dugout, bringing in the second run on the dead-ball overthrow rules. Sixth-inning RBI singles by Brice Turang<\/a><\/strong> and Pete Crow-Armstrong<\/a><\/strong> further extended the lead to 5\u20130.<\/p>\n Canada counterpunched in the bottom of the sixth. A Tyler Black<\/a><\/strong> RBI single and a two-run Bo Naylor<\/a><\/strong> homer slashed the American lead to 5\u20133. But scoreless relief from David Bednar<\/a><\/strong>, Garrett Whitlock<\/a><\/strong>, and Mason Miller<\/a><\/strong> stifled the chance for any further rally. Bednar pitched out of a second-and-third, no-out jam. Whitlock and Miller pitched 1-2-3 innings, with Miller striking out the side. This placed the capstone on the victory, sending Canada home and the United States to the semifinals.<\/p>\n In the third inning, the United States scored two despite the ball leaving the infield only once \u2014 and that play resulting in a fielder\u2019s choice out. Alex Bregman\u2019s RBI infield single \u2014 and the errant throw that followed \u2014 brought in two important runs. As captain Aaron Judge<\/a><\/strong> put it postgame, \u201cIf we\u2019re going to win this tournament, like we all believe we’re going to, it’s going to take more than home runs.\u201d This inning was a prime example.<\/p>\n Logan Webb<\/a><\/strong> scattered four hits across 4 2\/3 scoreless innings. He allowed one walk and struck out five.<\/p>\n The seventh, eighth, and ninth belonged to three of the best relievers in baseball. Bednar escaped a second\u2011and\u2011third, no\u2011out jam with a popup and two strikeouts. Whitlock followed with a composed eighth. And Mason Miller, with the stage built for him, struck out the side in order in the ninth.<\/p>\n DeRosa summed it up: \u201cIt\u2019s nice to call down to the bullpen and know you\u2019ve got closers coming in in all three innings.\u201d Judge added, \u201cIt’s all guys that have been in tough situations, tough games, and they always find a way to figure it out.\u201d He later said, \u201cThey\u2019re surgeons out there.\u201d<\/p>\n This was the only real blemish of the night. Canada\u2019s three\u2011run surge \u2014 Tyler Black\u2019s RBI single and Bo Naylor\u2019s two\u2011run homer \u2014 turned a comfortable lead into a close game.<\/p>\n Canada didn\u2019t fold after falling behind 5\u20130. They kept applying pressure, especially in the sixth and seventh. Manager Ernie Whitt<\/a><\/strong> said it plainly: \u201cWe had opportunities.\u201d He later added, \u201cYou have to come up with some big hits. And when the opportunity presents itself, you have to execute on it.\u201d They did in the sixth and kept pushing.<\/p>\n Canada ended the top of the sixth with a U5-3 double play that stopped the bleeding. They also turned a U6-3 double play to erase a leadoff walk in the ninth. Both kept them in the game.<\/p>\n Abraham Toro, after making a nice diving stop on Alex Bregman\u2019s bases-loaded grounder, airmailed the throw to first. Bregman had beaten it out, but when the throw entered the dugout, it turned from a one-run play into a two-run play.<\/p>\n Canada had runners on first and second with one out in the first, but back-to-back strikeouts by Owen Caissie<\/a><\/strong> and Abraham Toro left them stranded. They had a runner on second with two outs in the fifth, only for Josh Naylor to ground to first unassisted.<\/p>\n The biggest letdown for Canada came in the seventh. Down by two, they had the tying run in scoring position against Bednar: runners on second and third with one out. A Josh Naylor popup to third, followed by back-to-back strikeouts from O\u2019Neill and Caissie, squandered the opportunity. \u201cSometimes you have to give credit to the pitcher,\u201d Whitt stated.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a stepping stone. Hopefully other Canadian ball players see it, the excitement that there is. We had a full house out there today cheering. That’s fun.<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s the way baseball is supposed to be played. Not everyone can be happy, though. There’s always a winner and loser. When you get into this format, someone’s gotta win and someone’s gotta lose. On this side, it’s hard to take.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guys are very disappointed, but I told them they’ve got nothing to hang their head about. They should walk very proudly. We represented the country the best that we could and for them to walk proud and have a good season as they go forward.\u201d \u2014 Ernie Whitt on what Canada accomplished at the 2026 World Baseball Classic<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGuys really locked in. We saw a different level of focus at our workout the other day and then even pregame today. It felt like the boys were locked and ready to go.\u201d \u2014 Aaron Judge on how the United States Shook Off the Disappointment of the Italy Loss and Prepared for Canada<\/em><\/p>\nUnited States \u2013 Canada Game Summary<\/h3>\n
Not Done Yet<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for the United States<\/h3>\n
Capitalized on Their Few Opportunities<\/h4>\n
Strong Starting Pitching<\/h4>\n
Lights-out Back End Relief<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the United States<\/h3>\n
The Sixth Inning<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for Canada<\/h3>\n
Relentless<\/h4>\n
Key Double Plays<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for Canada<\/h3>\n
Miscue in Third<\/h4>\n
Runners Left in Scoring Position<\/h4>\n
Quotes<\/h3>\n
Quick Hits<\/h3>\n
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Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n