Canada gets hammered 12-2 by Reds in final warmup before World Baseball Classic

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The good times are over for Canada with the World Baseball Classic rapidly approaching.

Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Olivo each hit three-run homers as the Cincinnati Reds dominated Canada 12-2 in an exhibition game Wednesday.

Adam Loewen’s two-run homer was the only moment of optimism Canada could point to on an ugly night that featured poor batting, defensive mistakes and weak pitching ahead of Friday’s opening round game against Italy.

Plate discipline was key to Canada’s 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday. Canada struck out just three times with 10 walks against the Brewers after opening training camp on Monday with plenty of laughs and a good atmosphere.

Against the Reds, Canada was a mess. The team struck out 14 times, walked just four times and was outhit 18-4.

Problems on defence were also common. Miscommunication between outfielders led to a base and later a run in the third, Pete Orr bobbled a grounder in the same inning and Brett Lawrie was charged with an error on a routine play in the sixth.

While Cincinnati’s pitching looked effortless, Canada leaves the game with questions about its bullpen. Mark Hardy started the game but was charged with six runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.

After an RBI single by Neftali Soto gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Canada responded in the second after Cincinnati starter Mat Latos walked Michael Saunders before watching Loewen curve one of his pitches over the left-centre field wall for a 2-1 Canada lead.

The celebration was soon over.

Hardy gave up a pair of RBIs to Miguel Olivo and Emmanuel Burris in the bottom of the inning. An RBI single by Zack Cozart put the Reds up 4-2 and ended Hardy’s night in favour of Toronto Blue Jays prospect Trystan Magnuson.

But on Magnuson’s first batter he gave up a three-run shot to Ryan Ludwick that gave Cincinnati a 7-2 lead. By the time the inning was over every Reds batter had taken a swing at the plate.

In the third, confusion in the outfield between Tyson Gillies and Michael Saunders allowed a ball to drop between them for a Chris Heisey single. That proved extra costly on the next at-bat, when Olivo hit yet another three-run homer off Magnuson and putting Cincinnati ahead by eight runs.

In little danger of giving up the lead, the Reds put seven new players on the field to start the fourth.

Canada’s pitching problem continued in the fourth. Jay Johnson loaded the bases then walked catcher Corky Miller to put Cincinnati up 11-2. Dustin Molleken started strong with two strikeouts in the fifth, but his RBI groundout to Derrick Robinson in the sixth made it a 10-run advantage for the Reds.

Notes: Attendance at Goodyear Ballpark was 5,012. It’s the Reds’ spring training home but there was plenty of cheering for the Canadians. … Canada faces Mexico on Saturday and finishes the opening round against the United States on Sunday.