⚾ Today’s Edition
🇺🇸 Team USA punches ticket to WBC Final
Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony go deep while Paul Skenes and the bullpen hold off the Dominican Republic in a tense 2–1 semifinal thriller.
😬 Controversial strike call ends instant classic
A full-count slider called strike three against Geraldo Perdomo ends the game and sends Team USA to the championship.
🏆 Championship matchup nearly set
Team USA now awaits the winner of Italy vs Venezuela as the 2026 World Baseball Classic title game approaches.
🎬 Must-See Moments
The biggest highlights and plays from yesterday’s USA vs Dominican Republic semifinal.
Sunday night in Miami delivered exactly what we hoped for, a World Baseball Classic semifinal between Team USA and the Dominican Republic that felt like October baseball.
The Dominican Republic struck first on a Junior Caminero blast, but Team USA answered with homers from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony to take the lead. From there it became a tense bullpen battle, with Paul Skenes and a string of U.S. relievers holding down a Dominican lineup that had been one of the most explosive offenses in the tournament.
It all came down to the final at-bat in the ninth. With the tying run on third and two outs, Dominican shortstop Geraldo Perdomo worked a full count against closer Mason Miller. The next pitch was a slider below the zone but was called strike three, ending the game and sending Team USA to the WBC championship with a 2–1 win. The controversial call sparked frustration from the Dominican side, but it also capped a thrilling semifinal. Check out the call below and you be the judge:
We also had one of the best defensive plays in this year’s WBC as Julio Rodriguez robs Aaron Judge of a homerun. Normally I’d put this in the Must See Moments section but it was too good not to put it up top:
USA will play the winner of tonight’s Italy vs Venezuela game for the WBC Title.
📊 Game Recap
USA 2, Dominican Republic 1 — Team USA edges D.R. to reach third straight WBC final
Team USA held off the Dominican Republic 2–1 in a tense semifinal matchup at loanDepot park, advancing to the World Baseball Classic final for the third straight tournament.
🔑 Key Moments
Junior Caminero’s solo homer in the 2nd — Caminero blasted a 401-foot shot to left-center to give the Dominican Republic a 1–0 lead.
Gunnar Henderson’s solo homer in the 4th — Henderson launched a 400-foot homer to right-center to tie the game.
Roman Anthony’s go-ahead homer in the 4th — Anthony followed with a 421-foot blast to center to put Team USA ahead 2–1.
Paul Skenes escapes bases-loaded jam — Skenes worked out of trouble in the fourth to keep the game tied before the USA rally.
Juan Soto grounds into key double play — Bobby Witt Jr. started a double play in the fifth to preserve the lead.
📊 Notable Stats
Gunnar Henderson (USA): 1-for-4, HR, RBI, R
Roman Anthony (USA): 1-for-3, HR, RBI, R
Paul Skenes (USA): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 K
Mason Miller (USA): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K (save)
Garrett Whitlock (USA): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K
Junior Caminero (DOM): 1-for-4, HR, RBI, R
Ketel Marte (DOM): 2-for-4
Luis Severino (DOM): 3.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K
Héctor Brazoban (DOM): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K
💥 Must-See Moments
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