In a defensive masterpiece, Team USA’s pitching staff silenced the Dominican Republic’s explosive offense, winning 2-1 on the strength of two solo homers and a lockdown bullpen to advance to the WBC final.
A Pitching Masterclass Against the Odds
Facing a Dominican Republic lineup that averaged a tournament-high 10.2 runs per game, Team USA’s pitchers delivered a performance for the ages. Starter Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young winner, labored through 4.1 innings but held the powerful offense to just one run on six hits, striking out two without a walk. The true gem, however, was the bullpen, which allowed only two hits over 4.2 shutout innings, culminating in a tense ninth-inning save from Mason Miller.
Miller, who struck out two and walked one in his two-inning outing, embodied the staff’s composure under pressure. After a wild pitch and a groundout put the potential tying run on third, Miller froze Geraldo Perdomo with a called third strike to end the game. This coordinated pitching effort, confirmed by NY Post Sports, was the decisive factor in overcoming a lineup stacked with MLB stars.
Two Solo Shots Decide the Game
Offense was at a premium, but Team USA made its three hits count in the most critical moments. Gunnar Henderson opened the fourth inning with a solo homer off Dominican starter Luis Severino, who pitched 3.1 innings and struck out six. That tied the game 1-1. Then, with the same score, Roman Anthony provided the eventual winning margin, blasting a 421-foot solo shot off reliever Gregory Soto.
Anthony’s homer carried extra significance. The South Florida native was playing at loanDepot park for the first time as a professional, a full-circle moment since his last game there in 2018 with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. “For me, I was here the last time around watching the championship game heading into my first spring training,” Anthony reflected, a quote captured in the game coverage. His blast proved to be the difference, an offensive spark in a game defined by arms.
A Record-Tying Home Run in Vain
The Dominican Republic’s only run came in the second inning on a solo homer from Junior Caminero. It was his third homer of the Classic and, more notably, the 15th overall for the Dominican Republic, breaking the single-WBC record for team home runs. Despite this historic power display, their offense was otherwise stifled. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled and Manny Machado singled in the fourth, but Skenes escaped a bases-loaded jam by inducing a flyout from Austin Wells.
Manager Albert Pujols lamented the missed opportunity, stating, “It’s a bitter drink but we knew that someone would be happy and the other side would be sad.” The team’s championship quest, which would have been its first since 2013, fell short against a U.S. staff that executed a precise game plan.
The Final Awaits
With the victory, the United States advances to its third consecutive WBC final, where it will seek its second championship (and first since 2017). They await the winner of the Venezuela-Italy semifinal. USA manager Mark DeRosa announced that right-hander Nolan McLean will start the championship game on Tuesday night in Miami. This sets up a compelling final matchup, with the U.S. riding the momentum of its most complete team performance of the tournament.
The Weight of History and Fan Euphoria
The win resonates beyond the bracket. For young stars like Anthony and Henderson, it’s a career-defining moment on a global stage. For veteran-laden Dominican squad led by Pujols, it’s a devastating end to a title run. The contrasting emotions captured the tournament’s drama: DeRosa called it “high-level baseball at its finest,” a game “we’ll remember forever.”
From a fan perspective, this victory validates the U.S. roster’s construction—a blend of burgeoning talent and veteran arms. The shutdown of a lineup featuring Julio Rodríguez, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Ketel Marte will be analyzed for years as a blueprint for pitching in tournament play. The defensive gem, highlighted by Aaron Judge‘s throw-out of Tatis at third in the third inning, showed that small moments decide big games.
For the Dominican Republic, the record-setting homer total offers a silver lining, but the inability to consistently solve U.S. pitching will haunt. With the core of this team expected to return in 2029, this loss adds fuel to the fire for the next Classic. For now, Team USA stands one win away from reclaiming the championship, its path cleared by a night of pitching perfection.
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