Israel eliminates Nicaragua
Noah Mendlinger got things started for Israel with an RBI single in the bottom of the second - his first hit of the WBC. He would finish the game going 3-for-3 at the plate after going hitless in Israel's first game against Venezuela.
Then Israel (1-1) would pile on four runs in the bottom of the fifth with three separate singles from Harrison Bader, Zach Levenson, and Cole Carrigg to make it 5-0.
Starting pitcher Dean Kremer finished after 4.1 shutout innings, giving up just two hits and one walk with four strikeouts. The Israeli bullpen didn't allow a single hit the rest of the way.
Nicaragua (0-3) finished the 2026 World Baseball Classic without a single win. They lost to the Dominican Republic 12-3 in their first game. Then they gave up the first walk-off home run in World Baseball Classic history, losing to the Netherlands 4-3 in heartbreaking fashion. Now, a shutout to end their WBC run.
Israel's next game will be against the powerhouse Dominican Republic on Monday, March 9th, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time. The DR are currently 2-0 and have scored 12 runs in each of those wins.
But the most exciting game of the day came down in San Juan, Puerto Rico in a nail-biter between Panama and Canada.
Panama earns first win
Canada starting pitcher Jameson Taillon tossed 3.2 shutout innings, giving up just two hits and two walks with three strikeouts, retiring seven straight batters at one point.
His teammates got up on the board first, following an Otto Lopez single back up the middle. Abraham Tor would hit his second double of the WBC tournament to bring in Lopez to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning.
But Panama would finally respond with a trio of singles.
Edmundo Sosa would reach first base after a force-out at second to make it two outs in the 4th. Following a Canadian pitching change, Antoine Jean would give up a single to Christian Bethancourt, leaving runners on first and second.
Then it would be Luis Castillo who would score Sosa from second on a bobbled single in right field to make it 1-1 heading into the bottom of the inning.
And in the bottom of the inning it went, where Canada would waste no time at all in retaking the lead.
Following two singles from Bo Naylor and Owen Caissie, Canada's Denzel Clarke would hit a single of his own to make it a 2-1 ballgame before Panama could get out of the inning.
Then...Panama's rally began.
Canada committed two errors that led to three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning, which caused all the mayhem to ensue.
Miguel Amaya loaded the bases with a single and two outs. Long-time veteran Rueben Tejado proved his experience and hit an RBI single to make it 2-2, but a throwing error by Canadian pitcher James Paxton forced another run to score, making it 3-2.
Enrique Bradfield Jr. would pull through with an RBI single right afterwards, scoring Amaya, to give Panama the 4-2 lead heading into the top of the seventh inning.
Canada would fight back in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the lead to one run.
Owen Caissie launched a deep shot to center field that would score Bo Naylor all the way from third to make it 4-3 heading into the ninth inning.
A rain delay would cause the game to be put on hold briefly before returning, as Panama would close it out to win their first game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Their next game will be against Colombia, who have officially been eliminated with the Panama win, on March 9th at 12:00 p.m. Eastern as they stay alive in Pool A.
Meanwhile, Canada will face Puerto Rico on March 10th at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.