Key events
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Wells hits a line drive…foul! That would have cleared the bases, but instead, it’s 1-2.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
It’s 1-1 to Wells as Skenes approaches 60 pitches.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Rodriguez is hit on the wrist! That’s another two-strike hit by pitch. Is Rodriguez hurt? The trainers are taking a look at the Mariners slugger.
But bases are loaded now, and Yankees catcher, who does have a bit of pop in his bat, will step to the plate.
Rodriguez stays in the game.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Ground ball to short – Witt flips to second for one, but Turang drops a sure double play ball and can’t make the throw to first base!
Vladdy moves to third, and now Julio Rodriguez steps in with a real, two-out opportunity.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Machado hits a scorching ground ball towards the third base side of second base – Witt can’t handle it! Vladdy stays at second, so now it’s two on and one out and this is officially a jam as the home run hitter, Caminero, comes to the plate.
That’s three batters in a row where Skenes has had issues.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Jr hits a cue-ball to the wall in left field and glides into second base with a stand-up double.
I think the pitch to Soto was another mistake and now he’s given up a double. Could Skenes be fading a bit?
Machado is next.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Judge hits a line drive to right but Judge has a beat on it and falls into the dying swan, hitting the turf while making the catch! Good play for Team USA to start the fourth.
Now here’s Vladimir Guerrero, looking for a big swing.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Skenes is back because, a: he’s awesome and why would you take him out, and b: because he’s been efficient, throwing just 38 pitches through three innings. He starts the inning with a stern test: Juan Soto, missing on his first delivery, up and away.
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Witt strikes out swinging as Mejia retires the side. But not before two taters and a US lead!
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Mejia has heat, a 98mph fastball gets by Witt to make it 1-2.
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Little come-backer to Soto, but it’s off his glove! Crow-Armstrong reaches on the E-1, and now it’s back to the top of the lineup and Witt Jr. But not before Pujols is back to remove Soto from the game after a short stint. He wants to stop this two-out rally before it pays dividends, and so he’ll bring in the Rockies righty to face the Royals biggest bat.
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Soto gets Turang on a slider away – two outs. Now Crow-Armstrong steps in.
HOME RUN! USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Soto works his way back into the count and it’s full! Now Anthony hits a strike deep over the wall!
It’s a solo home run to center field off the DR reliever, their second tater of the frame!
USA 1-1 DR, top 4th
FOX TV says Soto can be a little bit wild, but I can confirm Soto can be a lot of bit wild.
And suddenly he’s down in the count 3-0 to Roman Anthony.
USA 1-1 DR, top 4th
Now Will Smith gives it a ride – a fly ball to left field puts Soto on his horse and the Mets OF makes a good play, fully extending his arm while on the run to make the catch.
One down, and here comes DR manager Albert Pujols. He’s out to get his man, Luis Severino, who is now done and dusted for the WBC. He could not have asked for much more – Sevy was sharp and made just one costly mistake against a brutal US lineup.
Gregory Soto, a reliever who can struggle with his control is heading in as Pujols starts to put together the rest of his puzzle.
HOME RUN! USA 1-1 DR, top 4th
The count is full to Henderson who leads off the fourth for the Americans. Severino is up to 65 pitches – how far will he go?
Not sure, but Henderson is going a lot farther – it’s UP AND OVER THE WALL! A tater to right field ties it for TEAM USA!
FOX TV in the US says the ball Judge threw to nail Tatis at third base was the fastest ball he’s thrown in three years. Make of that what you will, but that was quality.
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
Base hit to right – Tatis rounds second and is heading to third. Judge winds up and fires a STRIKE to Gunnar Henderson to nail Tatis at the bag! Tremendous play by Judge to get the runner and end the DR threat! Fantastic!
To the fourth!
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
Now Tatis is ahead in the count 3-0. This is the first time Skenes looks a little out of sorts. He comes back with a borderline strike, so now the count is 3-1 as Skenes checks on the runner at first.
Here’s the pitch – ground ball to third and Henderson has it. He throws to second base for one, the throw to first is not in time.
So two outs on the FC, still a runner at first, and it’s up to Marte to cashh in here for the DR.
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
Two strikes on Perdomo and he is hit in the foot! Hmmm. Interesting. Two bad pitches all game by Skenes. Will that last one cost Team USA? Top of the lineup and here’s Tatis Jr with one on and one out.
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
DR manager speaks to FOX TV in the US and says nothing of any real consequence, which is not unheard of for in-game manager interviews.
So here’s Austin Wells, whose mom’s side of the family is from the DR. He’s destroyed by a 96 mph Skenes fastball for the first out.
Perdomo is in the nine hole and is up next.
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Severino sneaks a sweeper by Schwarber which is not easy! Thanks to back-to-back strikeouts, Luis roars off the mound in Miami, escaping a two on, one out jam as the DR hold on to their slim lead!
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Schwarber fould off a pitch up in the zone. It’s 2-2 now!
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Schwarber is so tricky to pitch to, he covers the plate so incredibly well and he’s also as selective as it gets. The slugger is ahead 2-1 in the count.
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Nope! He went right at him and Severino has his fifth strikeout! It’s a slider that tails just at the last moment away from the right handed Judge! Two outs and Severino is an out away from getting out of this jam.
All he has to do is retire Kyle Schwarber.
Gulp.
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Now the count is even. Severino deals and just misses on the outside corner! The count is full! Surely he’ll pitch around him now.
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
This is the at-bat right here. A high stakes moment, early on in Miami. Judge lets a slider away go by, and he’s up in the count 2-1.
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
And he pulls a base hit to right! Witt rounds second, will stop at third as Harper cruises into second base with a double!
And now Severino has to face his old teammate Aaron Judge. First base is open, but DR manager Albert Pujols elects to pitch to the slugger. Will he make Luis pay?
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Witt rips a single to left. So he saw it, adjusted and has himself a one out knock. Now Harper is here for his second look at Severino.
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Team USA manager Mark DeRosa speaks to FOX TV in the US and says nothing of any consequence, as is usually the case in manager interviews. He did confirm they would have to win to reach the final though, so that’s a handy fact for the audience.
Crow-Armstrong starts it off for the Americans in the away third, as Severino gets ahead yet again, 1-2. Now he misses up and away to even the count, before Luis blows him away with a similar pitch. One down.
Sevy looks extremely sharp, throwing hard with control. Will the US adjust the second time around? Here’s Witt Jr, stepping in for his second at-bat.
The kid connects!
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USA 0-1 DR, bottom 2nd
Rodriguez grounds out to second to end the inning but not before the DR take an early lead!
HOME RUN! USA 0-1 DR, bottom 2nd
It’s up to Caminero, who we hear is the fifth youngest player in MLB history to hit 45+ home runs before the age of 23.
The Rays slugger is down in the count 1-2 but leans into the next pitch and pokes it over the left field wall!
He rounds the bases and is fitted with a custom DR homer jacket and the DR capitalize on a two-strike mistake by Skenes to take the lead. WOW!
USA 0-0 DR, bottom 2nd
It’s Skenes vs Vladdy – and the Jays slugger taps a ground ball to third. Henderson fields an in between hop well, has it and fires to first for the out.
One down and here’s Manny Machado.
And there goes Machado! He’s frozen by an un-hittable fastball on the outside corner. Two down!
USA 0-0 DR, top 2nd
Anthony looks at a borderline strike on the low end of the zone – that’s Luis’ third K of the night.
Turang is upl, swings and hits a hard ground ball to second – Marte has it and fires to second base for one out, and Perdomo fires to Guerrero Jr at first base for the second out! It’s a 4-6-3 inning ending double play!
Severino is through two innings unscathed.
USA 0-0 DR, top 2nd
Will Smith starts off for the Americans with the Dodger catcher looking to improve on his 2-6 WBC. He’s behind 1-2 to Severino before turning around an inside pitch and dumping it into right field. Excellent hitting right there by Smith, and now he’s on first as Boston’s super-prospect Roman Anthony steps in.
USA 0-0 DR, bottom 1st
Soto lines a ground ball towards the hole at second – Turang dives to his left, full extension and has it! He pops up and makes the throw to get Soto! Stellar grab by the Brewers second baseman! Side retired!
USA 0-0 DR, bottom 1st
Another pop up, this time to second base Brice Turang is under it and puts Marte away. Another easy at-bat for Skenes. This should be a bit tougher – Juan Soto is at the plate.
USA 0-0 DR, top 1st
So here’s the young Paul Skenes, who at some point will make $7.9 gazillion dollars should he stay healthy. And we hope he does because the hurler is just magic to watch.
Three pitches and one out – Tatis Jr pops harmlessly to left field. Here’s Ketel Marte stepping in.
USA 0-0 DR, top 1st
Henderson swings and hits a ground ball to second – it’s easy for Marte and the Diamondback fires to first for the third out of the inning.
The USA threaten but strand two runners.
Here come the DR!
USA 0-0 DR, top 1st
Judge swings and connects – a line drive over towards third base and over the head of Perdomo. That’s a two-out base hit.
And here’s more trouble – a sweeper that really swept, hitting Kyle Schwarber.
And suddenly, just like that, it’s two on with two out, and Gunnar Henderson, who is 7-9 against Severino is at the plate with a real opportunity.
How will it end?
USA 0-0 DR, top 1st
Once again Severino is ahead in the count before Judge lets a low offering go.
Then he barely stays alive on a foul tip.
Let’s do it again – the pitch? Low and away.
The count is full. How will it end?
USA 0-0 DR, top 1st
Severino’s sinker is hitting 99 MPH and now his cutter is whipped past the swinging bat of Bryce Harper. Bang! Two up, two down, two strikeouts.
And look, here comes the Judge.
Vamos!
We’re off! Bobby Witt Jr stands in against Luis Severino!. He falls behind in the count 1-2 before chasing a slider – strike three! One down, and now it’s Bryce Harper whop strolls to the plate.
Juan Marichal
He’s 88 and one of the best pitcher’s in baseball history is still bringing it. Will he be back dancing tonight?
Lineups
We don’t know which Navy Seal was chosen to fire up the Americans before their crucial match-up vs the Dominicans, but we do know their lineup.
United States of America
1. Witt Jr, SS
2. Harper, 1B
3. Judge, RF
4. Schwarber, DH
5. Henderson, 3B
6. Smith, C
7. Anthony, LF
8. Turang, 2B
9. Crow-Armstrong, CF
Dominican Republic
They flip their bats high, and they score, a lot – 51 runs in four games. But they haven’t faced anyone like Skenes. Can they keep the line moving against the Bucs ace?
1. Tatis Jr, RF
2. Marte, 2B
3. Soto, LF
4. Guerrero, 1B
5. Machado, 3B
6. Caminero, DH
7. Rodriguez, CF
8. Wells, C
9. Perdomo, SS
Email!
Peter Brown says:
“I’m hate watching this purely in the slim hope that the USA mess up – then I’ll watch all the amusing hand wringing that will ensue on YouTube.
But I fear a blockade or invasion of if the conjoined twin of Haiti prevails !!”
I think you better erase that Peter!
Mojo
US starting pitcher Paul Skenes was just speaking on FOX TV in the US and he mentioned servicemen and the military and fighting and winning. I have no idea what representing your country in a baseball game has to do with the military, but it seems to be a thing in the US dugout. Personally, I don’t need to hear about all that before a baseball game, but maybe that’s just me.
It’s a bit lighter on the DR side. They have incredible belief and a roster full of love for their culture, bat flips and fun. In a competition full of color and vibes, no team has been more enjoyable to watch, with a plethora of passionate players up and down their dugout. Their enthusiasm for what they do is contagious and so I wonder how any neutral can possibly root against them. No team is a better overall advertisement for the sport, and if you don’t believe me, just watch.
ICYMI
Baseball in Italian, one of the many reasons to love the WBC. Are the Azzurri heading to the WBC finals? They face Venezuela tomorrow night in Miami on the other side of the bracket.
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The Rules
We’re at the semifinals and that means these starters can pitch big boy innings, up to 95 pitches. Now, if Mark DeRosa sticks with Skenes that long I’ll eat my hat and give you my kids, but as we know with DeRosa, anything is possible. There’s no mercy rule in the semis, because these folks have paid a lot of cash to sit in these seats, and no matter what happens, they’re getting their nine innings of baseball. We have the pitch clock, two manager challenges per team, and god forbid we go to extra innings, yes, the ghost runner rule with a runner starting the frame on second base will apply. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, right?
Hola!
Welcome to our coverage of the World Baseball Classic! It’s heavyweight night in Miami with a semi-final match-up between the US and the Dominican Republic. It’s the game we all wanted to see from our first view of the bracket, with two of the most stacked baseball lineups you could put together from the global talent pool.
It’s also become something of a de-facto WBC final, with Japan shocked by Venezuela and Cinderella Italy continuing it’s run with a defeat of Puerto Rico in Saturdays quarter-finals. Yes, Italy beat the US once, but they would be big underdogs in the final, as would Venezuela, regardless of which team wins tonight.
There’s not much between these super-powered bats, but the mound is where the rubber meets the road. On the hill tonight for the Americans, a hurler who needs no introduction – Paul Skenes – who at age 23 already has a Cy Young award and two sub 2.00 earned run averages under his gold and black Bucco’s belt. Against Mexico in his only WBC appearance: four innings, seven strikeouts, one hit over 60 pitches. He is formidable and almost untouchable, regardless of who holds the stick, and Dominican players are 3-27 against him in MLB play.
For the Dominicans, it’s Luis Severino, who is a solid, serviceable but inconsistent pitcher who can be had. When he’s going well Severino is more than capable of going deep into games. He also has big game experience, throwing in 13 playoff contests. When he’s not on, well, it can get ugly, and against a relentless lineup that hasn’t really hit its stride, manager Albert Pujols will have his hook ready.
In the bullpen, the Yanks also have a weapon in closer Mason Miller, who has struck out eight in three hitless innings. The Dominicans don’t have anything approaching that caliber of reliever. No wonder, Team USA are favored to reach the final in their bid for a second WBC title.
Opening pitch is coming up at 8PM EST, 12 GMT, so now is the time to get your fat-free Greek yogurt with blueberries, oats and a little whipped cream ready. Meanwhile, why not email me your thoughts and feelings and get your name in the paper – your mom will love that!
More to come – stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how Japan’s tournament came to a sudden end:
Wilyer Abreu watched the ball leave the park and tossed his bat high in the air. His Venezuela teammates streamed out of the dugout in celebration. The comeback was on, and the win over the reigning World Baseball Classic champion Japan was within reach.
Japan, their 11-game WBC winning streak on the line, held a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning of Saturday’s thrilling quarter-final matchup in Miami when Abreu put his team ahead with the biggest swing of the game: a three-run shot off Hiromi Itoh that sent the loanDepot Park crowd into a passionate roar and helped clinch Venezuela’s 8-5 win and first WBC semi-final appearance in 17 years.
You can read the full report below:
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/mar/15/usa-v-dominican-republic-world-baseball-classic-semi-final-live
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