Team USA is heading back to the World Baseball Classic final behind an all-hands-on-deck effort to defeat the Dominican Republic 2-1 on Sunday in the semifinal, with the game ending on a controversial Mason Miller strikeout of Geraldo Perdomo in the bottom of the ninth.
The Americans will play either Venezuela or Italy on Tuesday in the WBC final, with hopes of avenging their loss in the 2023 final vs. Japan.
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Starter Paul Skenes delivered 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball to lead the Americans, allowing only a solo homer to Junior Caminero in the second. From there, the U.S. bullpen kept up the standard set by Skenes, holding the D.R.’s bats scoreless across the final 4 2/3 frames.
After Caminero put the D.R. on the board first with his solo blast — the Dominicans’ record-breaking 15th homer of the tournament — the American offense battled back in the fourth inning with a pair of solo homers from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony. Those two runs proved to be enough.
USA wins on controversial strike call
Sunday’s game came down to the final pitch. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Perdomo worked the count full with two outs and the tying run on third. That’s when Miller, the U.S.’s closer, delivered an 89 mph slider that was called strike three — despite not being anywhere near the zone.
Postgame, the Fox broadcast crew acknowledged the controversial call, with both David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez insisting the pitch was not a strike. Making matters worse, there was another questionable call during a Juan Soto at-bat in the eighth inning, when another low pitch was called a third strike.
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Derek Jeter noted that he expects the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system to be used in the next World Baseball Classic.
Defense and pitching show out in USA-D.R.
This low-scoring game featured defensive gems and excellent pitching throughout the contest. Dominican Republic starter Luis Severino opened the game by striking out Bobby Witt Jr. and Bryce Harper, getting them both swinging. In the third inning, he struck out three, including Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber with two runners on base. Severino exited in the fourth after allowing Henderson’s solo homer. He finished the night having allowed five hits and the one run across 3 1/3 innings, with six strikeouts.
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For the Americans, Skenes was more good than great, but that’s not to take away from the massive accomplishment of holding the Dominican offense to one run. Skenes finished his night with six hits and one run allowed, with two strikeouts.
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The U.S. also showed up with some big defensive plays, including a massive throw from outfielder Aaron Judge that ended the third inning. Judge threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. on his attempt to go from first to third on a two-out single, stifling what could’ve been a big moment for the Dominicans and stealing back some momentum for the U.S.
In the next half-inning, the Americans scored their two runs.
Pitching with the lead in the fourth, Skenes got the USA out of another jam after the Dominican Republic loaded the bases on a Vlad Guerrero Jr. double, Manny Machado single and nasty hit-by-pitch on Julio Rodríguez. Austin Wells flied out to end that threat.
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In the next inning, Rodríguez perhaps got some revenge, robbing Aaron Judge of what looked like a solo homer.
Skenes exited in the bottom of the fifth after allowing back-to-back singles, and the Team USA bullpen took it from there. Tyler Rogers, Griffin Jax, David Bednar, Garrett Whitlock and Miller collectively allowed two hits, six walks and, most importantly, zero runs to hold the USA lead.
Meanwhile, the D.R. bullpen struck out nine Americans while allowing just two hits.
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It was an entertaining classic of a semifinal, one that American manager mark DeRosa said, “That will be a game that we’ll remember forever.”
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As for the controversial ending, D.R. manager Albert Pujols told reporters, “I’m not going to focus on that last pitch. … I don’t want to criticize any of that. It just wasn’t meant to be for us.”
Read more for updates, news, and highlights from Team USA’s 2-1 semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic in the WBC:
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Team USA will be playing for the WBC title on Tuesday. The Americans’ opponent will be decided Monday in the semifinal between Venezuela and Italy.
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Mason Miller gets it done, striking out Geraldo Perdomo (on a questionably low called strike 3) to finish the ninth inning and send the Americans on to the finals.
What a fantastic game, and what an incredible performance from the USA pitching staff to shut down arguably the best offense in this tournament.
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Tatis is on deck. Rodriguez is still on 3rd. Two outs in the ninth.
This game is so good.
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Oneil Cruz grounds out on a close play, and Julio Rodriguez advances to third.
The tying run is now 90 feet away for D.R.
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The first pitch to Cruz pops out of catcher Will Smith’s glove, and Julio Rodriguez moves to second.
The tying run is in scoring position for the Dominican Republic.
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Julio takes ball 4, and the tying run is aboard for the D.R. with one out in the ninth.
Oneil Cruz is up to bat as the potential winning run.
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Caminero strikes out swinging. That’s out No. 1.
Oneil Cruz is in the on-deck circle to pinch-hit for Wells.
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Buxton strikes out, Turang grounds out, and we’re headed to the bottom of the ninth.
Mason Miller gets the ball to try to close it out for Team USA. Caminero, Rodriguez and Wells are coming up for D.R.
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Camilo Doval is on the mound for D.R. in the ninth. He strikes out Will Smith for out No. 1.
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Guerrero grounds out, and Machado whiffs on a slider for strike 3, and we’re headed to the 9th inning.
Team USA would love some insurance. Team D.R. has three outs left to tie this game.
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He strikes out Soto for out No. 1.
The Americans also made a defensive substitution, with Byron Buxton replacing Anthony and moving to center field. Ernie Clement pinch-ran for Schwarber in the previous half-inning and remains in the lineup as the DH.
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Seranthony Domínguez handled the top of the 8th for D.R., striking out Judge, walking Schwarber and inducing a double-play ball from Henderson.
The Dominican lineup is down to its last 6 outs to tie this game.
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After striking out Tatis, Bednar gets another huge strikeout of Ketel Marte, and that’s the end of the seventh inning.
The Dominicans had a really good chance to tie the game right there, but it’s still 2-1 headed to the eighth.
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An Austin Wells one-out double followed by a Perdomo single has the go-ahead run on base for D.R.
Perdomo steals second to move into scoring position, but Tatis strikes out for out No. 2.
Bednar is on the mound for Team USA.
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PCA, Witt and Harper go down in order in the top of the 7th, and it’s time to stretch in Miami.
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Air Force Academy graduate Griffin Jax took the ball for the Americans in the sixth and set down Guerrero, Machado and Caminero to keep it a 2-1 ballgame headed to the seventh.
Witt deliverd another spectacular play to get Machado.
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Brazobán makes quick work of Smith, Anthony and Turang, with 3 K’s, and the Dominican bats are back up in the sixth.
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Tyler Rogers comes in to relieve Skenes and induces a grounder from Juan Soto. Bobby Witt Jr. makes a beautiful play to turn two, and that’s the end of the 5th inning.
This game is headed to the 6th inning, still 2-1 USA.
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In the top of the 5th, Perdomo flies out, and then Tatis and Ketel Marte deliver back-to-back singles to put two on and chase Skenes from the ballgame.
The American ace exits after 4 1/3 innings and 71 pitches, having allowed six hits and one run (the Caminero solo blast) with two strikeouts.
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And that does it for the Americans in the top of the 5th.
Skenes is back out for the bottom of the frame.
