World Baseball Classic 2023: Scores and Reaction from Tuesday Pool Play Results

Tuesday marks the penultimate day of pool play at the 2023 World Baseball Classic with four spots still up for grabs in the knockout stage.

The opening game on the schedule was from Pool D with Venezuela improving to 3-0 and eliminating Nicaragua from the competition. The Venezuelan team has been dominant thus far with just eight runs allowed through three games.

Canada and Colombia squared off in a crucial Pool C showdown. Canada became in control of their own destiny, after a comfortable 5-0 win to sit atop of Pool C.

The second Pool D matchup of the day between Israel and the Dominican Republic had huge implications. Israel needed to win out and have Puerto Rico lose to the Dominican Republic on Thursday to advance, but was easily taken care of.

Mexico was one of three teams with a 1-1 record in Pool C. Great Britain (1-2), Mexico's opponent on Tuesday night, was trying to get off the bottom of the group in its final game of pool play but was narrowly defeated 2-1 in the end.

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2023 World Baseball Classic Results - Tuesday, March 14

• Pool D: Venezuela def. Nicaragua, 4-1
• Pool C: Canada def. Colombia, 5-0
• Pool D: Dominican Republic def. Israel, 10-0 (F/7)
• Pool C: Mexico def. Great Britain, 2-1

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Dominican Republic 10, Israel 0 (F/7)

For the second consecutive night, Israel's game was stopped early due to the mercy rule in a 10-0 loss to the Dominican Republic.

The Israeli team also lost 10-0 to Puerto Rico on Monday. Puerto Rico's pitching staff tossed a perfect game, though it won't go into the record books as such because it was called after eight innings.

The Dominican Republic put away Israel in seven innings when Jean Segura's double drove in Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz to make it a 10-0 score.

Israel's pitching staff did a good job of keeping things close for awhile. It was only 3-0 after five innings before the wheels fell off. Julio Rodríguez got things started in the bottom of the sixth with a bases-loaded double that scored two runs.

Manny Machado, who hit a solo homer in the bottom of the first, drove in Rodríguez and Juan Soto with a single to right field.

The Dominican pitching staff was also on point throughout the game. Spencer Horwitz's leadoff single in the top of the third was Israel's only hit.

Roansy Contreras, Génesis Cabrera, Luis Ortiz and Héctor Neris combined for 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Gary Sanchez was the only starter in the Dominican lineup without a hit. He did reach base on a walk and scored a run.

This win by the Dominican Republic sets the stage for a marquee game against Puerto Rico on Wednesday. The winner will advance to the quarterfinal, while the loser will be sent home.

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Canada 5, Colombia 0

Team Canada moved one step closer to the knockout stage with an impressive 5-0 win over Colombia.

Otto Lopez did most of the damage with the bat for Canada. He went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer, a triple and two runs scored.

Bo Naylor and Owen Caissie also drove in runs for Canada in the win. Edouard Julien had a fantastic day in the leadoff spot with three hits and a walk in five plate appearances.

With Lopez taking care of things when Canada was up to bat, Noah Skirrow did an excellent job of shutting down the Colombian bats. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed just two hits with five strikeouts in five innings.

The news wasn't all good for Canada during the game. Freddie Freeman was removed in the bottom of the fourth inning with what was described as a "slight hamstring injury" that seemed to occur during his second at-bat in the top of the third.

Since starting the tournament with a 5-4 win over Mexico, Colombia has lost back-to-back games and is on the verge of elimination with just one game left to play. Oscar Mercado was the only player on the team with multiple hits in Tuesday's loss.

Colombia didn't have a runner get to second base until the bottom of the ninth. Mercado and Evan Mendoza led off the frame with consecutive singles, but the rally was halted when Adrian Sanchez grounded into a double play. Gio Urshela flew out to left field to end the game.

Canada now has an opportunity to win Pool C with a win over Mexico and a loss by Team USA against Colombia. A victory by the Canadians, regardless of what happens with the United States, on Wednesday ensures they will advance to the quarterfinals.

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Venezuela 4, Nicaragua 1

While there have been other teams putting up more flashy performances in the tournament, Venezuela is arguably the most consistent team in the field after Japan.

Tuesday was another efficient effort from manager Omar López's team. Seattle Mariners third baseman, Eugenio Suárez, gave Venezuela a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run single off Leo Crawford.

Suárez also showed off his defensive chops in the top of the eighth with a slick play on Cheslor Cuthbert's grounder to help preserve the lead.

Detroit Tigers southpaw Eduardo Rodriguez worked around a lot of traffic on the bases in his two innings of work to allow just one run. He gave up seven hits and struck out three on 52 pitches.

López told reporters after the game Rodriguez isn't allowed to pitch again in the WBC, per a mandate from the Tigers, but he hopes to use him if Venezuela gets to the championship game on March 21.

After Rodriguez was removed from the game, five Venezuelan relievers combined to give up just four hits with nine strikeouts over the final seven innings.

Anthony Santander went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and run scored. Andrés Giménez also drove in a run and scored a run in the win.

Erasmo Ramirez had a strong start for Nicaragua with three shutout innings. Benjamin Alegria went 3-for-4 and is hitting .500 overall in the tournament.

Even though the Nicaragua squad is leaving the World Baseball Classic without a win (0-4), making it to the tournament is a big step for the country. This was its first-ever appearance at the event and it was put in arguably the deepest pool with Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico among the best teams in the field.

Venezuela advanced to the quarterfinals as the Dominican Republic defeated Israel later in the day. Venezuela can win Pool D with a win over Israel or a Puerto Rico loss to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday.

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Mexico 2, Great Britain 1

In a much closer-than-expected game, Mexico outlasted Great Britain 2-1 at the 2023 World Baseball Classic on Tuesday.

The star of the game for Mexico was catcher Alexis Wilson, who began the tournament as the bullpen catcher, but got the start Tuesday and drove in both of Mexico's runs, going 2-for-3 in the contest.

After Wilson gave Mexico the lead with an RBI infield single in the second inning, Great Britain tied it in the sixth with an RBI infield single of its own.

Then, in the seventh inning, Wilson stroked an RBI single to left field, plating Alan Trejo for the go-ahead run.

Per MLB.com's Jesse Borek, Wilson said the following about playing such a pivotal role in a key win for Mexico:

"I'm happy to have the opportunities. I was getting ready for any situation that could arrive. And I'm very happy for the opportunity and for this game that, thank God, we came out with the victory. And we have a lot of trust to come out tomorrow to win with the same attitude, same intensity to win."

Wilson was also the receiver for a spectacular pitching performance by the Mexican staff, led by Philadelphia Phillies hurler Taijuan Walker, who allowed one hit, one walk and no runs in four innings, while striking out eight.

With the loss, Great Britain fell to 1-3 and their tournament is over, but it can still automatically qualify for the next WBC if the United States beats Colombia on Wednesday as expected.

As for Mexico, they're 2-1 and control their own destiny entering Wednesday's game against Canada, as the winning team is guaranteed to advance to the next round.