Glew: U.S. ends Canada's historic WBC run
Canada was defeated 5-3 by the U.S. in their World Baseball Classic quarterfinals showdown on Friday night. Photo: Baseball Canada
March 13, 2026
By Kevin Glew
Canadian Baseball Network
Canada’s historic run at the World Baseball Classic came to an end on Friday night with a 5-3 loss to the U.S. in their quarterfinals matchup at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas.
In the knockout round of the WBC for the first time, Canada battled back from a 5-0 deficit to make it close, thanks to a two-run home run by Bo Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) in the sixth inning.
But a strong U.S. bullpen would shut Canada down in final three innings.
“The guys are very disappointed, but I told them they've got nothing to hang their head about,” said Canada’s manager Ernie Whitt after the game. “They should walk very proudly.”
After earning a win against Colombia in Canada’s opening game of the tournament, right-hander Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) got the start again on Friday and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 2 2/3 innings and was saddled with the loss.
Left-hander Micah Ashman took over for Soroka in the third and proceeded to toss 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.
San Francisco Giants ace Logan Webb started for the U.S and limited Canada to four hits, while striking out five batters, in 4 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.
U.S. right-hander Mason Miller struck out the side in the ninth to record the save.
The U.S. opened the scoring in the first inning. After leadoff hitter Bobby Witt Jr. walked, Aaron Judge doubled, advancing Witt to third. Canada then brought their infield in and Kyle Schwarber smoked a ground ball off the glove of first baseman Josh Naylor (Mississauga, Ont.) that second baseman Edouard Julien (Quebec, Que.) corralled and recorded an out at first, but Witt scored to make it 1-0.
The U.S. added two more runs in the third. After Bryce Harper reached on a fielder’s choice, Judge walked and Schwarber hit a slow grounder to third for an infield single to load the bases. Alex Bregman then hit ground ball that third baseman Abraham Toro (Longueuil, Que.) made a nice diving play on, but got up and threw wildly to first base, allowing Harper and Judge to cross the plate to increase the U.S lead to 3-0.
The U.S. padded their lead in the sixth inning when Phillippe Aumont (Gatineau, Que.) entered the game and permitted an infield single and a walk before being replaced by Adam Macko (Stony Plain, Alta.). Macko then surrounded back-to-back RBI singles to Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong to make the score 5-0 for the U.S.
Canada got on board in the bottom of the frame when Owen Caissie (Burlington, Ont.) drew a one-out walk from reliever Brad Keller. Two batters later, Tyler Black (Stouffville, Ont.) singled to left to plate Caissie to make it 5-1.
The U.S. then brought in left-hander Gabe Speier to face the left-handed hitting Bo Naylor who promptly clubbed a two-run home run to make it 5-3.
Macko rebounded in the seventh to strike out Harper, get Judge to fly out and fan Schwarber to keep the game close.
Canada threatened in the bottom of the inning when Julien and Otto Lopez (Montreal, Que.) led off with infield singles and advanced to second and third on a passed ball by Raleigh. However, U.S. reliever David Bednar bore down to get Josh Naylor to pop out to third and then strike out Tyler O’Neill (Maple Ridge, B.C.) and Caissie.
Matt Wilkinson (Vancouver, B.C.) took over for Macko in the eighth and hurled two scoreless innings -- fanning Raleigh to end the eighth and Harper to end the ninth – to keep the score 5-3.
Two Canadian records were tied or broken on Friday night. When Toro singled in the fourth inning, it was his eighth hit of this year’s WBC. That tied him with Michael Saunders (Victoria, B.C.) for most hits by a Canadian in a single WBC. Saunders had eight hits in 2013.
And when Aumont took over in the sixth inning, it marked his seventh appearance in WBC play. With that, he passed Scott Mathieson (Aldergrove, B.C.) for most appearances by a Canadian pitcher in WBC play.
Despite the loss, Canada made significant progress in this tournament, advancing to the knockout round for the first time.
“I think it's a stepping stone,” Whitt said of Canada’s performance at this year’s WBC. “You know, hopefully other Canadian ball players see it, the excitement that there is. We had a full house out there today cheering. That's fun.”