Panama Tops Canada 4-3 in World Baseball Classic Pool A

Panama capitalized on a trio of defensive errors by Canada in the sixth inning to secure a 4-3 victory over the defending champions in a Pool A matchup at the World Baseball Classic on Sunday at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The win snapped a two-game skid for Panama, which had fallen to host Puerto Rico in extra innings and to Cuba earlier in the tournament. Canada, entering the contest unbeaten after an 8-2 triumph over Colombia on Saturday, saw its perfect record end despite a strong start. The loss leaves both teams at 1-1 in pool play, with Cuba and Puerto Rico also unbeaten as the group tightens ahead of the knockout rounds.

Canada struck first in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead when Abraham Toro doubled to score Otto Lopez, who had opened the frame with a single to center field. Panama evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Luis Castillo.

The Canadians regained the advantage in the bottom of the inning, going up 2-1 as Denzel Clarke's single brought home Bo Naylor. Panama's pitching held firm through the middle innings, but the game turned decisively in the sixth when reliever James Paxton entered for starter Antoine Jean.