United States Keeps Dominican Republic Offense At Bay, Advances To WBC Final

No team had been able to keep the high-powered Dominican Republic offense at bay for nine innings. On Sunday night, Mark DeRosa and the United States were able to limit the DR to just one run on eight hits en route to a 2-1 victory, sending the USA back to the World Baseball Classic finals in back-to-back tournaments.

Luis Severino started the game for the Dominican Republic and in 3 1/3 innings of work, struck out six USA hitters, including back-to-back strikeouts of Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber to get out of a jam in the top of the third inning. The United States would get to Severino in the top of the fourth, as Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson took him deep for a solo homer, tying the game at one. After recording the first out in the fourth, he was taken out of the game in place of Gregory Soto.

Soto was only able to record one out in his third appearance of the tournament. Before he was taken out of the game in place of Juan Mejia, Soto surrendered the second home run for the United States. This time, it was Stoman Douglas alum Roman Anthony, who took Soto 421 feet deep to straightaway center. Anthony’s home run was the 7th in the World Baseball Classic by a player under the age of 22.

"Roman's special," USA manager Mark DeRosa said postgame. "At 21 years old, to be able to handle a moment and the quality of at-bat is a testament to the kind of player he is right now and is going to become. Just special to be able to stand in there left on left against (Gregory) Soto, work the count and get a pitch to drive, so I expect big things from him."

The Dominican Republic wasted no time getting on the board, as Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero took Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates deep for his third home run of the tournament, 15th overall for the Dominican Republic, which is the most home runs hit in a single tournament, surpassing Mexico in 2009 with 14.

Caminero’s three home runs are tied for the most in a single World Baseball Classic before turning 23, with 2017 Carlos Correa. His homer went 401 feet to left field, giving the DR an early 1-0 lead.

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who made the start for the United States, went 4.1 innings of work, allowing one run on six hits (one home run) and striking out two. Skenes’ fastball averaged 97.6 mph and topped out at 99.2 mph. His well-known splitter generated four whiffs and struck Austin Wells out with it.

The Dominican Republic wasted no time getting on the board, as Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero took Skenes deep for his third home run of the tournament, 15th overall for the Dominican Republic, which is the most home runs hit in a single tournament, surpassing Mexico in 2009 with 14.

Caminero’s three home runs are tied for the most in a single World Baseball Classic before turning 23, with 2017 Carlos Correa. His homer went 401 feet to left field, giving the DR an early 1-0 lead.

After many doubted the US bullpen, they threw 4.2 innings of shutout ball, striking out six in the process. The USA bullpen was only tacked on for two hits.

"Hats off to our pitching staff, to be honest with you," DeRosa said postgame. "Incredible lineup that the Dominican Republic throws at you, and incredible respect for it. That was high-level baseball at its finest. For our bullpen to come in and do the job that they did, the Dominican did not stop; there was constant traffic, never relaxed. Just a game that we will remember forever."

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with one out and runners on the corners for the Dominican Republic, New York Yankees reliever David Bednar struck out both Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ketel Marte swinging to get out of the jam. Garrett Whitlock pitched the bottom of the eighth, and he proceeded to strike out both Juan Soto and Manny Machado.

Team USA brought in San Diego Padres star closer Mason Miller to close out the game. Unlike his last time pitched at loanDepot park, where he surrendered a walk-off grand slam to Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers, Miller struck out Junior Caminero and Geraldo Perdomo and notched his second save of the WBC.

One of the most controversial calls of the game was the strike three to Perdomo, which was low. With no ABS in place for the World Baseball Classic, the call stood final, and the game ended, but many wonder what could've been if the call had been overturned. Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols told the media that he doesn't think about that final pitch, and that wasn't the story of the game.

When DeRosa was asked about it after the game, he said he assumes that ABS will likely be in the next WBC. "I'm a fan of it," he said.

Miller's availability for Tuesday's final is "TBD," but he will do “everything in his power” to be out there for the final.

With the win, the United States moves on to the World Baseball Classic championship game. Their opponent, Venezuela or Italy, will play on Monday at 8:00 pm. Tuesday is the WBC final, also at 8:00 pm. New York Mets starter Nolan McLean will start for Team USA on Tuesday.

Kevin Barral is on-site in Miami covering the World Baseball Classic for DiamondCentric.