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Team USA is on its way back to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final as it toppled the Dominican Republic, 2-1, in a thriller in Miami on Sunday night.
The USA, who fell to Japan in the 2023 WBC final, will look for redemption against either Venezuela or Italy, who play their semi-final match on Monday night.
The hype and hysteria coming into this contest between two world baseball powerhouses lived up to it all, despite what the box office said. Both teams came to grips at key moments as they matched the frenzied energy of the crowd.
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Roman Anthony of Team United States 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’s dugout and faithful went ballistic when Junior Caminero, the 22-year-old Tampa Bay Rays’ rising star, fielded a hanging breaking ball from Skenes in the bottom of the second inning with two runs. The ball was thrown to left field over 400 feet and their patented celebration ensued.
DR got the first strike out of Skenes, who had been looking forward to this start against a lineup filled with some of the best baseball players in MLB. But two laps later, it was Team USA’s own young stars who turned the game in their favor.
Gunnar Henderson, who manager Mark DeRosa chose to play at third base, his secondary position of shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles, over Alex Bregman, one of the best defenders at the hot corner in MLB, because of how well he hit Luis Severino. The veteran right-hander was amped up for his start for DR, 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 paid off when Henderson hit a moonshot over the fence in right-center field to tie the game at one.
Severino was pulled after another batter for Gregory Soto, who was facing Boston Red Sox phenom Roman Anthony, the 21-year-old coming off a terrific first appearance in the WBC. After running the count full, Anthony took advantage of a fastball down the middle, launching 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 as Anthony made a sign across his chest and showed his pride as he celebrated with his teammates.
It was just 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 unable to get runs across. Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber both struck out to end the inning, which fired Severino, who screamed toward the Team USA dugout.
But the umpire clearly let it go from his head when he had a crucial defensive play in the bottom of the third inning when he struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. down trying to go from first base to third. Tatis, who is a fast runner, was out by a mile where the judge proved that his elbow, which caused problems in 2025, is more than fine heading into the 2026 season.
The Dominicans eventually chased Skenes from the game after 4.1 innings as his final line read six hits, an earned run on the Caminero homer and two strikeouts. Severino lasted 3.1 innings and gave up five hits while striking out six Team USA batters in an impressive outing that saw triple-digit fastballs on the radar gun.
Luis Severino of Team Dominican Republic reacts after beating Kyle Schwarber #12 (not pictured) of Team United States to end the third round at loanDepot Park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
The USA knew a 2-1 lead wasn’t enough, but as the Dominican bullpen continued to stifle their bats and Julio Rodriguez appeared to steal a home run from the umpire, they needed their own relievers to come through. After Tyler Rogers and Griffin Jax did their jobs, David Bednar found himself in some 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 against Canada in the quarterfinals, struck out Tatis and Ketel Marte to get out of the jam and keep the score level.
Garrett Whitlock was solid in the eighth inning to keep a one-run lead alive, leading to the easiest decision for DeRosa of the night: Mason Miller to pitch the ninth.
The San Diego Padres All-Star closer got a strikeout to start the inning, but things got interesting when he walked Rodriguez and Will Smith couldn’t handle a pitch from Miller that allowed a free pass to second base.
Gunnar Henderson of Team USA rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning of the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC presented by Capital One game between Team USA and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park on Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos)
Oneil Cruz moved Rodriguez to third on a groundout to Bobby Witt Jr., leaving Geraldo Perdomo as DR’s last hope. He had a clutch at-bat earlier in the game, one that could have tied it up if Wells read the line drive to centerfield better from second base.
But Miller got Perdomo to look at a 3-2 shooter in the bottom of the zone to secure Team USA’s spot in the WBC finals.
