Team USA will face the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic semi-finals. The United States booked their place with a 5-3 victory against Canada on Friday night. Dominican fans had made it clear they wanted to see the USA next, chanting “Queremos a USA”.
A Semifinal Showdown Looms
The clash is billed as a dream match between two of the tournament’s most talented teams. National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes is slated to start for Team USA against the Dominican lineup. Athletics right-hander Luis Severino is expected to face an American lineup.
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa anticipates a game for the ages. The teams last met in the WBC in 2017, when the U.S. ousted the Dominican Republic in the quarter-finals. The USA went on to win its only WBC title. The Dominican team has won one title as well, in 2013.
Navigating the Game Against Canada
The United States took an early lead against Canada. Kyle Schwarber’s run-scoring groundout put them ahead 1-0 in the first inning. In the third, a fielding error by Canada’s Abraham Toro allowed two more runs to score.
Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong added two further run-scoring singles in the sixth inning, extending the lead to 5-0. Logan Webb pitched 4⅔ shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out five. Brad Keller then allowed Canada’s first run.
A two-run homer from Bo Naylor narrowed the lead to 5-3. David Bednar faced a tense situation in the seventh, with Canada threatening to score. Garrett Whitlock and Mason Miller closed out the game for the United States.
Dominican Republic’s Dominance
The Dominican Republic has been in excellent form. They have outscored opponents 51-10 in their five WBC wins. In contrast, the United States have struggled to score runs in recent games.
- The Dominican Republic advanced after a mercy-rule win over Korea.
- The United States beat Canada 5-3.
- The semi-final will be the first meeting between the USA and Dominican Republic in the WBC since 2017.
The game is scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET in Miami.