Team USA returned to the finals of the World Baseball Classic with a victory over the Dominican Republic
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The USA team returned to the finals of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), as they beat the Dominican Republic, 2-1, in an exciting game in Miami on Sunday night.
The US, who fell to Japan in the 2023 WBC final, will look for redemption against either Venezuela or Italy, who will play their semi-final on Monday night.
The hype and hysteria surrounding this matchup between two of the most powerful baseball players in the world made it all despite the box score. Both teams came up against each other at key moments, when they matched the massive power of the crowd.
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Team USA’s Roman Anthony runs around the bases after hitting a solo home run against Team Dominican Republic during the fourth inning at loanDepot Park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Of course, the Dominican Republic dugout and loyalty took the lead when Junior Caminero, the 22-year-old rising star of the Tampa Bay Rays, tied a breaking ball from Skenes in the bottom of the second inning with two outs. The ball was thrown more than 400 yards into left field, and their patented celebration ensued.
DR got the first strike out of Skenes, who had been looking forward to this start against a roster full of the best baseball players in MLB. But two innings later, it was Team USA’s own stars who turned the game in their favor.
Gunnar Henderson, manager Mark DeRosa chose to play at third base, his second position as shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, over Alex Bregman, one of MLB’s best hot cornerbacks, because of the way he hit Luis Severino. The veteran right-hander is excited about his DR debut, and his emotions showed it.
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However, DeRosa’s decision came down to how much success Henderson had against Severino. The decision was there, as Henderson hit a moon shot over the right field fence to tie the game at one.
Severino was pulled after hitting Gregory Soto, who was facing Boston Red Sox pitcher Roman Anthony, a 21-year-old who made his WBC debut. After running the count full, Anthony took advantage of a fastball up the middle, and put it over the center field wall for a 2-1 lead.
Paul Skenes of Team United States reacts after giving up a home run to Junior Caminero #13 (not pictured) of Team Dominican Republic during the second inning at loanDepot Park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
The entire American dugout was on the field, when Anthony pumped his chest, showing pride as he celebrated with his teammates.
It was exactly what Team USA needed in the top of the fourth inning, especially after having runners on second and third with one out in the previous frame and no runs. Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber both hit home runs to end the inning, prompting Severino to yell toward the Team USA dugout.
But Judge let that get to his head, as he had a key defensive play in the bottom of the third inning when he struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. trying to move from first to third. Tatis, who is a fast runner, is out by one kilometer, Judge proves that his elbow, which caused problems in 2025, is much better for the 2026 season.
The Dominicans finally chased Skenes in the game after 4.1 innings, as his last line read six hits, one earned on a Caminero homer and two strikeouts. Severino went 3.1 innings, giving up five hits while striking out six Team USA batters in an impressive outing that saw three-digit fastballs on the radar gun.
Luis Severino of Team Dominican Republic reacts after hitting Kyle Schwarber #12 (not pictured) of Team USA to end the third inning at loanDepot Park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
The US knew a 2-1 lead wasn’t enough, but as the Dominican bullpen continued to pinch their bats, and Julio Rodriguez appeared to rob Judge of the ball, they needed their relievers to pull through. After Tyler Rogers and Griffin Jax did their jobs, David Bednar found himself in trouble with runners on second and third with one out — the same situation Judge and Schwarber found themselves in — in the bottom of the seventh.
But Bednar, who escaped a similar situation with Canada in the quarterfinals, beat Tatis and Ketel Marte to get out of the jam and keep the score even.
Garrett Whitlock was solid in the eighth inning to keep a one-run lead alive, leading to an easy decision for DeRosa on the night: Mason Miller pitching the ninth.
The San Diego Padres All-Star came close to getting a strikeout to start the inning, but things got complicated when Rodriguez walked and Will Smith couldn’t handle a pitch from Miller that allowed a free pass to second.
Team USA’s Gunnar Henderson rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC presented by Capital One between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park on Sunday, March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photos by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB)
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Oneil Cruz moved Rodriguez to third on a groundnut to Bobby Witt Jr., leaving Geraldo Perdomo as DR’s last hope. He had a clutch at-bat early in the game, which could have tied it if Wells had read the line drive to center better from second base.
But Miller found Perdomo heading for a 3-2 slide down the stretch to secure Team USA’s spot in the WBC finals.
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