Team USA Uses Stellar Pitching, Long Ball Against Dominican Republic to Reach Third Straight World Baseball Classic Final

Against the toughest opponent it has faced and the most talented foe it will play in the World Baseball Classic, Team USA rose to the occasion to bounce the Dominican Republic, 2-1, in the semifinals. The United States just needed two bases-empty home runs, one by Gunnar Henderson and the other by Roman Anthony, and lights out pitching by Paul Skenes and company to earn their third straight berth into the WBC final.

There was some consternation on the side of the Dominican Republic because it thought the slider thrown by Mason Miller was erroneously called strike three to end the game. While the pitch to Geraldo Perdomo appeared below the strike zone, D.R. wasn’t allowed to challenge, as there is no ABS system.

D.R. had come into the game as the team to beat, scoring the most runs of any team left in the field and posting the second-lowest ERA. While the pitching held the U.S. offense in check, the Dominican Republic’s offense could not capitalize on hitting with runners in scoring position, going just 2-for-9 against Team USA pitchers.

The U.S. will square off against the winner of Monday’s showdown between Venezuela and Italy on Tuesday at loanDepot Park in Miami.

Team USA Pitching Up To Task Slowing Down Juggernaut Dominican Republic

Juan Soto. Manny Machado. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. These were some of the dangerous hitters the Americans had to contend with throughout the night. While the Dominican Republic lineup carried the team up to the semifinals, it met its match against Team USA.

The young phenom Skenes got the start for the U.S., and he did not disappoint in his outing. While Skenes did face instances where he got into trouble, the Cy Young Award winner was able to navigate away from allowing a crooked number of runs.

Skenes pitched a 1-2-3 first inning, forcing Fernando Tatís Jr. to fly out, Ketel Marte into a pop out, and Juan Soto into a sharp groundout. However, the second inning was when the D.R. got on the board first. The Pittsburgh Pirate was able to induce two quick outs from Guerrero Jr. (groundout) and Machado (strikeout), but was then tagged for a solo shot by Junior Caminero for a 1-0 lead.

The home run by Caminero was the Dominican Republic’s 15th of the tournament, which broke a tie with Mexico (2009) for the most all-time by any team in a single World Baseball Classic. This would be the last home run and last run of any kind for the D.R. on the night.

Following the homer, Julio Rodríguez proceeded to ground out to end the second inning. The third saw Skenes receive a little help from Right Fielder Aaron Judge. With two outs and a runner on first, Ketel Marte smashed a line drive base hit to Judge. Tatís Jr. attempted to go from first to third, but the San Diego Padre clearly did not see what Judge did when Joey Ortiz of Mexico attempted to go from first to third.

As was the case with Ortiz and Mexico, Tatís Jr. was gunned down to end the inning. Side note, Skenes was also on the receiving end of Judge having the put out for Team USA against Mexico.

After a diving catch for an out off the bat of Soto to commence the fourth inning, Skenes gave up a double to Guerrero Jr. and a single to Machado. Caminero, who earlier had the home run, grounded to a force out, leaving runners on first and third with two outs.

Rodríguez was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Austin Wells. Unfortunately for D.R., the Yankees catcher was not able to come through as Skenes forced him to fly out to left field to halt the threat. In all, Skenes tossed 4.1 innings, giving up six hits and the one home run in what was a gutsy performance against a mighty offense.

Team USA Bullpen Lays the Hammer, Leaving D.R. Offense Without Any Answers

Tyler Rogers was the first reliever to come on for the USA in the fifth inning, where he inherited two runners on with one out. Against the dangerous Soto, on the second pitch, Rogers was able to force a double play. That was all the Blue Jay was required to do, but it was nevertheless solid work.

Griffin Jax pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning for Team USA, making easy work of Guerrero Jr. (flyout), Machado (groundout), and Caminero (lineout). David Bednar replaced Jax in the seventh.

Bednar allowed a double by Wells over the head of Judge and a single by Perdomo. Perdomo had then stolen second base for two runners that were in scoring position with one out. Just when you thought the Dominican Republic was going to blow the contest open, Bednar became unhittable.

Against Tatis Jr.? Not a problem for the Yankee closer as he just struck him out with a devastating splitter. Marte? Nope, no chance for the Diamondback, either. He too made a slow walk back to the dugout after he was fanned. Inning over.

Team USA’s setup man and closer, Garrett Whitlock and Miller, had an identical stat line: one inning pitched, zero hits, two strikeouts to shut the door on the title hopes of the D.R.

The AL East’s Youth Supplies the Runs For Team USA

The United States’ offense was limited for most of the contest in Miami. As a team, the U.S. went 0-for-3 with RISP and left six men on base. No player had more than one hit for the first time this tournament, and the two runs scored were by far the lowest output for the Americans in this WBC.

Henderson led off the fourth inning against starter Luis Severino. The 25-year-old Oriole initially contended with a wide assortment of cutters and sweepers before fouling off the first fastball of the at-bat, the eighth pitch overall. Instead of the ninth pitch, another cutter, being fouled off or nestled in the Catcher’s mitt, Henderson crushed the ball 400 feet into right center field for a 1-1 tie.

Later in the inning and with one out, Anthony was next to bat against Gregory Soto. While the at-bat was not as long as that of Henderson’s, Anthony was also able to produce. The 21-year-old wunderkind saw nothing but sinkers in the six pitches he saw, and he smoked the last sinker 421 feet into straight center field as USA grabbed on to a 2-1 lead it would never relinquish.

Final Takeaway

Team USA has to be beaming with confidence going into Tuesday’s final. The Americans neutralized the best offense in the WBC in the Dominican Republic and did just enough offensively to nip the 2013 champions.

Whichever squadron the USA has to contend with will not be easy to triumph over; the lone loss of the U.S. came at the hands of the upstart Italy, and Venezuela has shown tremendous grit in the WBC. With all that said, it feels as though the Americans are rejuvenized and have retaken the mantle as the team to beat for the WBC title.