Canada falls 11-7 in World Baseball Classic tune-up against MLB’s Chicago Cubs

Mar 8, 2023 | 5:18 PM

MESA, Ariz. — Cody Bellinger had two RBIs, including a home run that kick-started Chicago’s late run to pull ahead and away as the Cubs defeated Canada 11-7 on Wednesday.

Down 4-3 after a scoreless fifth inning, Bellinger hit a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. With the aid of a passed ball, a Nelson Maldonado RBI single and a wild pitch, Chicago scored three more in the seventh before adding another four runs in the eighth to go up 11-4.

Damiano Palmegiani hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning to cut the deficit for Canada but that was as close as the national team would get in its first of two exhibition games leading up to the World Baseball Classic.

Jacob Robson also homered for Canada, while Jared Young picked up two RBIs.