USA v Dominican Republic: World Baseball Classic semi-final – live | World Baseball Classic
Key events
The rules
We’re in the semifinals and that means these starters can throw big boy innings, up to 95 pitches. Now, if Mark DeRosa stays 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 semifinals, because these people paid a lot of money to sit in these seats, and no matter what, they’ll get their nine innings of baseball. We have the pitch clock, two team manager challenges, and heaven forbid we go to extra innings, yes the ghost runner rule with a runner starting the frame at second base will apply. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen, shall we?
Hello !
Welcome to our coverage of the World Baseball Classic! It’s heavyweight night in Miami with a semi-final between the United States and the Dominican Republic. This is the matchup we all wanted to see from our first sight of the bracket, featuring two of the most stacked baseball lineups one could muster from the global talent pool.
It’s also become something of a de facto WBC final, with Japan shocked by Venezuela and Italy continuing its Cinderella run with a loss to Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Yes, Italy beat the United States once, but they would be a big underdog in the final, as would Venezuela, regardless of which team wins tonight.
There’s not much between these high-powered bats, but the mound is where the rubber meets the road. On the hill tonight for the Americans is a pitcher who needs no introduction – Paul Skenes – who, at 23, already has a Cy Young Award and two ERAs under 2.00 under his Bucco gold and black belt. Against Mexico in his only WBC appearance: four innings, seven strikeouts, one on 60 pitches. He’s formidable and nearly untouchable no matter who’s holding the bat, and Dominican players are 3-27 against him in MLB.
For the Dominicans, it’s Luis Severino, who is a solid, serviceable but inconsistent pitcher, that we can have. When he’s doing well, Severino is more than capable of going deep in matches. He also has big game experience, having appeared in 13 playoff games. When he’s not there, well, it can get ugly, and facing a relentless lineup that hasn’t quite hit its stride, manager Albert Pujols will have his hook ready.
In the bullpen, the Yanks also have a weapon closer, Mason Miller, who struck out eight in three hitless innings. The Dominicans have nothing comparable to this caliber of reliever. No wonder Team USA is favored to reach the final in its bid for a second WBC title.
The opening pitch will be at 8:00 p.m. EST, 12 GMT, so it’s time to make your fat-free Greek yogurt with blueberries, oats, and a little whipped cream. In the meantime, why not email me your thoughts and feelings and put your name in the paper – your mum will love it!
More to come – stick with us!
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how the Japanese tournament ended suddenly:
Wilyer Abreu watched the ball leave the park and threw his bat in the air. His Venezuelan teammates came out of the dugout to celebrate. The comeback was underway and victory against defending World Baseball Classic champions Japan was within reach.
Japan, with its 11-game WBC winning streak, held a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning of Saturday’s thrilling quarterfinal in Miami when Abreu put his team ahead with the biggest swing of the game: a three-pointer from Hiromi Itoh that sent the LoanDepot Park crowd into a passionate roar and helped clinch Venezuela’s 8-5 victory and its first WBC semifinal appearance in 17 years.
You can read the full report below:
