The Toronto Blue Jays secured a 10-7 victory over Canada’s national baseball team in an exhibition game held at their spring training site in Dunedin, Fla. Riley Tirotta’s three-run homer in the eighth inning proved to be the game-changer, following Canada’s comeback to tie the game after conceding seven runs in the first two innings.
Preparing for the World Baseball Classic, Canada played the first of two games against Major League Baseball teams. Jesus Sanchez’s three RBIs and Kevin Gausman’s two scoreless innings set the stage for the Blue Jays’ early lead.
Canada slowly closed the gap against the Blue Jays, eventually tying the game with a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by Jacob Robson’s solo home run. Despite a blown save, Jack Cushing returned in the ninth inning after Tirotta’s homer, pitching a scoreless inning to secure the win. Brock Dykxhoorn took the loss for Canada after conceding the go-ahead homer in the eighth.
Canada will face Philadelphia next before kicking off their World Baseball Classic schedule against Colombia in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The Blue Jays will have a day off before resuming their spring training action against Atlanta.
In the game, Toronto took an early lead with Sanchez’s two-run single in the first inning. They extended their lead by scoring five more runs in the second inning. On the other side, Canada managed to score off Toronto’s relievers, with Tyler O’Neill and Owen Caissie contributing RBIs.
Canada’s roster for the World Baseball Classic includes 21 players with current or past MLB experience. Notably, 14 players from the 2023 World Baseball Classic squad return this year. Los Angeles Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman withdrew from the competition earlier this year.
Canada is placed in Pool A for the World Baseball Classic, with upcoming games against Panama, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. The top two teams in Pool A will advance to the quarterfinal round in Houston.
