WBC C’S: Pool Play Results

The World Baseball Classic has captured the attention of baseball fans everywhere over the last eight days. Pool Play took place at the four opening round locations (Houston, Miami, San Juan and Tokyo) and featured 11 Canadians alumni plus C’s manager Jose Mayorga. While Mayorga’s Team Panama won only one of their four games (taking down Team Canada, no less) and seven alums have also packed their bags, four old friends are moving on to the Quarterfinals. Here’s a look at how all 11 performed over the tournament’s opening round.

BRAZIL – Eliminated

RHP Eric Pardinho – 1 GS, 3.0 IP, 24.00 ERA, 10 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

Pardinho was roughed up in his lone appearance in the tournament, a start against Mexico on March 8. The right-hander was tagged for four runs in the first, one in the second and three in the fourth before he was removed, and he was handed the loss in an eventual 16-0 defeat that ended in six innings due to the WBC mercy rule.

CANADA – Next game: Quarterfinal 2 vs. USA on March 13

RHP Adam Macko – 2 G, 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K

Macko only recorded two outs – one in each of his outings – but each proved crucial to Canada’s efforts as part of their first-ever escape from the opening round. He stranded an inherited runner at third in the seventh on March 8 to keep the Canadians within striking distance in their lone loss to Panama (4-3 final score) then came on in the sixth inning of their pivotal game against Cuba on March 11 and struck out the potential go-ahead run to leave the bases loaded. That game ended with the Canadians on top 7-2 to punch their ticket to the quarterfinals.

INF Otto Lopez – 4 G, 3-14 (.214 BA), 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB

Lopez picked the right time to have his best game of the tournament. In the win-or-go-home matchup against Cuba, the dynamic utilityman went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a walk in the leadoff spot.

CHINESE TAIPEI – Eliminated

C Lyle Lin – 4 G, 1-7 (.143), 2B, 2 R, BB

Lin’s biggest moment in Pool Play came against Australia in Chinese Taipei’s opening game on March 5. With his side trailing 3-0 in the top of the ninth, the Taiwan-born, U.S.-raised catcher came to the plate for his lone at-bat of the game and hit a deep drive to centre that seemed ticketed for the seats beyond the outfield wall. But the Tokyo Dome’s deepest part of the outfield proved insurmountable for the fly ball; it was caught at the warning track and Australia held on to win 3-0.

ISRAEL – Eliminated

LHP Jake Fishman – 1 G, 1.1 IP, 6.75 ERA, 1 HB

Fishman had the tough task of facing the loaded lineup of Team Domincan Republic on March 9. He was called on in relief to get the last two outs of the eighth – he stranded both inherited runners in scoring position – then gave up a run in the ninth (and plunked Padres superstar Manny Machado in the process).

1B Spencer Horwitz – 4 G, 4-16 (.250), HR, 3 R, 1 RBI

The Northwest League’s hitting streak record holder clubbed a solo homer against the Dominican to help the Israelis avoid a shutout. Horwitz split his tournament between first base and designated hitter.

ITALY – Next game: Quarterfinal 3 vs. Puerto Rico on March 14

UTL Jon Berti – 3 G, 5-12 (.417), 1.333 OPS, 2 2B, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, SB

Berti – along with the rest of Team Italy – had a terrific opening round, racking up three extra base hits and posting a 1.333 OPS (anything over 1.000 is considered elite) in three games played. The 2011 Northwest League champion – who hails from Troy, MI – helped his countrymen of Team USA advance to the Quarterfinals when his solo homer in the top of the fourth proved to be the eventual winning run in a 9-1 drubbing to eliminate Team Mexico.

MEXICO – Eliminated

DH Rowdy Tellez – 4 G, 1-9 (.111), 2 BB

It was a quiet round for Tellez, whose 11 plate appearances featured little more than a lone single. He’s currently a free agent.

PANAMA – Eliminated

RHP Abdiel Mendoza – 2 G, 1.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 HB, 1 BB, 1 K

Mendoza was steady and reliable over his two outings, much like during his tenure with the Canadians when he was a member of the 2023 championship team. The right-hander’s best showing was getting two outs in the eighth against Puerto Rico on March 7 to preserve a 2-1 lead. That effort proved to be for naught; the Panamanians would go on to lose 4-3 in 10 innings after a 24-minute rain delay in the ninth.

INF Leo Jimenez – 2 G, 0-5, 1 BB

With a spot on the Blue Jays roster at stake this spring, Jimenez appeared in just two games for Team Panama during pool play. He’s on the short list for an opportunity on the big league bench with less than two weeks of Spring Training remaining.

PUERTO RICO – Next game: Quarterfinal 3 vs. Italy on March 14

RHP Luis Quinones – 2 G, 4.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1 BB, 7 K*

Few pitchers had as much success in the opening round as Quinones, who led the Puerto Rican pitching staff – and tied for the fourth-most strikeouts of all WBC pitchers – with seven Ks, including five in two innings of no-hit relief work on March 7 against Panama.

Catch all the World Baseball Classic action throughout the month of March as an appetizer for the 75^th anniversary of historic Rogers Field at Nat Bailey Stadium. Opening Night at The Nat is set for April 7. Tickets and more information are available by calling 604-872-5232, visiting CanadiansBaseball.com or following the C’s on social via @vancanadians.