WBC 2017: Canada falls to Dominican Republic 9-2 in Pool C opener

Jose Bautista and Welington Castillo homered to help lead the Dominican Republic over Canada in their Pool C opener at the World Baseball Classic.

Castillo’s two-run home run was the big blow in a four-run second inning by the Dominican Republic. Canada trimmed the lead to 4-2 with single runs in the third and fifth innings. Their first run came off of a balk and their second on a double by Dalton Pompey.

The Dominican Republic answered right away in the home half of the fifth inning. Adrian Beltre made the score 5-2 with an RBI single. Bautista blew the game wide open with a three-run bomb in the sixth to make it an 8-2 game. They would add a final run in the seventh when Beltre scored on a throwing error by second baseman Pete Orr.

Freddie Freeman went 0-for-4 at the plate but was robbed of a hit on an excellent play by Manny Machado.

Bautista went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in four runs for the Dominican Republic. Machado and Gregory Polanco finished with two hits each.

Canada’s next game will be against Colombia on Saturday.