Trending Now - USA Edges Dominican Republic to Secure Spot in WBC Final
WHO:
Team USA, Dominican Republic, Paul Skenes (Team USA pitcher), Gunnar Henderson (Team USA player), Roman Anthony (Team USA player), Junior Caminero (Dominican Republic player), Aaron Judge (Team USA captain), Julio Rodríguez (Dominican Republic player), Fernando Tatis Jr. (Dominican Republic player), Luis Severino (Dominican Republic pitcher), Gregory Soto (Dominican Republic pitcher), Bobby Witt Jr. (Team USA player), David Bednar (Team USA reliever), Mason Miller (Team USA closer), Mark DeRosa (Team USA manager), Albert Pujols (Dominican Republic manager).
WHAT:
Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, marking their third consecutive appearance in the finals.
The Dominican Republic set a WBC record with 15 home runs in the tournament, surpassing the previous record held by Mexico since 2009.
Junior Caminero hit a solo home run in the second inning, bringing his tournament batting average to .350.
The game ended with a controversial called third strike against Geraldo Perdomo, which was described as being "several inches below the strike zone."
Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic 2-1 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
Team USA advanced to the World Baseball Classic finals for the third consecutive time.
The game featured solo home runs from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony.
Junior Caminero hit a solo home run for the Dominican Republic, marking the 15th home run of the tournament for the team.
Paul Skenes pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits.
Mason Miller recorded a save, striking out Geraldo Perdomo to end the game.
WHERE:
The game took place at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
WHEN:
The semifinal match occurred on March 15th, 2026.
The final match is scheduled for March 17th, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
WHY:
The Dominican Republic's goal was to win the championship, having reached the semifinals for the first time since their title win in 2013, featuring six players who finished among the top 10 in MVP voting last year.
Team USA aimed to capture its second World Baseball Classic championship, having previously won in 2017 and lost in 2023.
HOW:
The automated ball-strike system (ABS), which will debut in Major League Baseball, was not used in the World Baseball Classic, leading to the inability to challenge the controversial call against Perdomo.
Team USA utilized strong pitching and defense to limit the Dominican Republic's scoring opportunities.
Aaron Judge made a significant defensive play, throwing out Fernando Tatis Jr. attempting to advance to third base.
Julio Rodríguez made a defensive play by robbing Aaron Judge of a home run.
(UPDATED March 16, 2026 07:18 UTC)
In a thrilling semifinal match of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Team USA triumphed over the Dominican Republic with a score of 2 to 1, securing their spot in the finals for the third consecutive time. The Dominican Republic set a tournament record with 15 home runs, while Junior Caminero contributed a solo shot, raising his batting average to .350, but the game ended in controversy with a called third strike against Geraldo Perdomo that many felt was well below the strike zone. Notably, the automated ball-strike system, which will debut in Major League Baseball, was not in use during the tournament, preventing any challenge to that contentious call.
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(UPDATED March 16, 2026 05:35 UTC)
In an exciting semifinal match at loanDepot park in Miami, Team USA triumphed over the Dominican Republic with a score of 2-1, securing their spot in the World Baseball Classic finals for the third consecutive time. The game featured solo home runs from Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony for Team USA, while Junior Caminero hit one for the Dominican Republic, marking their 15th home run of the tournament. Strong pitching from Paul Skenes and a crucial save by Mason Miller, along with key defensive plays from Aaron Judge and Julio Rodríguez, helped Team USA limit the Dominican Republic's scoring opportunities as they aim for their second championship on March 17.