Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony homered and the US restricted the Dominican Republic’s electrical offense to win an exhilarating semi-final 2-1 on Sunday and transfer one win from capturing its second World Baseball Traditional championship.
The Dominican Republic threatened within the ninth when Julio Rodríguez drew a stroll and superior to 3rd towards Mason Miller. With two outs, Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo for his second save however the closing pitch – on a full depend and with the harmful Fernando Tatis Jr up subsequent – was several inches below the strike zone. ABS is just not part of the World Baseball Traditional, so the Dominicans – who benefited from some missed calls themselves – had been unable to problem. Though the People’ wonderful pitching gained the sport slightly than the umpiring, it was a dismal technique to finish what had been an enthralling contest.
“That recreation can’t finish like that. A disgrace,” wrote ESPN’s Jeff Passan on social media.
Not even shut. Worst most consequential name of the WBC up to now. Completely brutal.
[image or embed]
— kelsey lewin (@kelslewin.bsky.social) March 15, 2026 at 11:08 PM
“,”alt”:”World Baseball Traditional closing at bat graphic”,”index”:3,”isTracking”:true,”isMainMedia”:false,”sourceDomain”:”embed.bsky.app”}”>
Enable content material offered by a 3rd get together?
This text contains content material hosted on embed.bsky.app. We ask in your permission earlier than something is loaded, because the supplier could also be utilizing cookies and different applied sciences. To view this content material, click on ‘Enable and proceed’.
The loaded American roster led by NL Cy Younger Award winner Paul Skenes and that includes stars Bryce Harper and Aaron Choose, reached its third straight WBC title recreation after profitable in 2017 and falling to Shohei Ohtani and Japan in 2023. The People will face the winner of Monday’s semi-final between Italy and Venezuela in Tuesday’s title recreation.
The Dominicans reached the semis for the primary time since profitable the WBC title in 2013, however lacking the championship was not the aim for a roster that featured six gamers who completed among the many high 10 in MVP voting final yr and cruised via the early rounds of this WBC.
They confronted their greatest check of the event towards Skenes (2-0), who gave up one run on six hits via 4.1 innings, and the US bullpen, which held the Dominicans scoreless the remainder of the way in which.
Junior Caminero hit a solo drive off Skenes within the second to present the Dominicans a file 15 homers within the event, surpassing the mark set by Mexico in 2009. He completed the event hitting .350.
The matchup between the 2 star-studded lineups didn’t fail to ship large moments, particularly on protection.
Choose obtained it began within the third with a 95.7 mph laser from proper subject to get Fernando Tatis Jr at third. The Yankees All-Star then discovered himself on the opposite facet of an enormous defensive play within the fifth when Rodríguez – an inning after being hit on the wrist by a 98 mph fastball from Skenes – scaled the center-field wall to rob Choose of a house run.
Henderson, beginning at third base over Alex Bregman, homered off Luis Severino to tie it within the fourth earlier than Anthony hit the go forward homer, connecting on a 3-2 sinker from loser Gregory Soto.
Thanks for studying! Be a part of our group at Spectator Daily
