World Baseball Classic: Canada 5, Colombia 0
One day after giving up a dozen runs in two innings, Canada shut out Colombia to move into a first place tie with Team USA in Group A.
Starter Noah Skirrow, a Phillies farmhand, held Colombia to just two hits in five innings of work in Phoenix. Three relievers completed the shutout win.
Meanwhile, the Team Canada offense did just enough. Canada broke through in the fourth when Tyler O’Neill singled and scored on Bo Naylor’s base hit.
In the eighth, Otto Lopez tripled and scored on Owen Caissie’s base hit to left for a 2-0 advantage. Not until Lopez homered with two on in the top of the ninth did the Canada pitchers truly have breathing space.
For Colombia, this wasn’t a case of wasted opportunities but rather of absence of opportunities. Thanks to a caught stealing and two double plays, Skirrow faced only one batter over the minimum through his five innings of work.
Colombia stranded only one baserunner the rest of the game.
Canada hung on despite losing first baseman Freddie Freeman to a third-inning leg problem. It was not clear whether Freeman was truly injured or whether he was removed merely out of concern for temporary hamstring tightness.
Canada will conclude Group C play Wednesday against Mexico, the winner being assured of advancement to the quarterfinal stage.