Dominican Dominators Sweep American Stars in Semis!

Mar 13, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; United States right fielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts with first baseman Bryce Harper (24) after scoring during the third inning against Canada during a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The knockout stage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic kicked off Friday night, with the Dominican Republic drawing a gutsy South Korean squad, while Team USA faced off with their northern neighbors Canada. Here’s how things went down in Games 1 & 2 of the quarterfinals.

Quarterfinals Game 1: Dominican Republic 10, South Korea 0 (called after 7 innings) The final score reads like a blowout, but this game felt more like a suffocation. The D. R.

jumped out to an early lead, and while they would not score in innings four through six, you could feel their grip on the game tighten with each passing minute. Cristopher Sánchez was utterly dominant, as was Albert Abreu, who relieved him. Meanwhile, the South Korea bullpen pitched their hearts out, posting three consecutive 1-2-3 innings in a desperate bid to keep the game somewhat within reach.

Alas, it was not to be. Austin Wells’ three-run homer in the seventh was the finishing blow, as the Dominican Republic put an end to South Korea’s WBC campaign. The starters for each squad – Sánchez for the D.