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For the third time in less than a month, the Americans have crushed Canadian sporting dreams on the world stage.
After dramatic victories over Canada in the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey gold medal games, Team USA defeated Canada in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, 5-3.
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Team Canada number 1 Denzel Clarke reacts after being pulled during the fifth inning against Team USA at Daikin Park on March 13, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
Thanks to a strong start from American pitcher Logan Webb and timely hitting throughout the lineup, the Americans struck early and then held on as Canada tried to come back in the sixth inning at Daikin Park.
The United States took a 5-0 lead in the sixth inning, thanks to RBIs from Kyle Schwarber, Alex Bregman, Brice Turange and Pete Crow-Armstrong. But Canada got back into the game in the bottom of the sixth, with an RBI single by Tyler Black and a two-run homer by Bo Naylor.
The Canadians had a sure chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, with two men on and no outs, but they failed to score after a popout and then two strikeouts.
Edouard Julien #15 of Team Canada slides to second base against Brice Turang #13 of Team USA during the fifth inning at Daikin Park on March 13, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Deliver Mason Miller closed out the game for the United States in the ninth inning.
The United States now advances to the semi-finals against the Dominican Republic and Canada will have to settle for another bitter defeat against the United States in a major international tournament, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions between the two countries.
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Team USA manager Mark DeRosa revealed that American hockey hero Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal in the gold medal game against Canada at the Olympics, contacted American baseball players before Friday’s game.
Jack Hughes celebrates with the American flag after scoring Team USA’s second goal in overtime to win gold on February 22, 2026. (Reuters/Alessandro Garofalo)
“Jack Hughes sent the boys a nice little message of encouragement that I played in their group chat,” DeRosa said in a news conference Thursday before the game.
“I know there are discussions about sending out hockey jerseys tomorrow so the guys can wear them during BP or while traveling to the clubhouse.”
