New Headline: Dominican Outfielders Clash in Rivalry for Gold Glove Titles

MIAMI — Junior Caminero sat in the third-base dugout, glued to his seat while his teammates retreated inside, sinking into an unfamiliar feeling. To that point, his rollicking and resplendent Dominican Republic team had spent the World Baseball Classic outclassing and overwhelming its opponents, emphatically enjoying every second along the way . But this time, Caminero was left to watch someone else celebrate.

Moments earlier, the Dominicans fell 2-1 to Team USA in the WBC semifinals . It was a game that will be talked about for years to come, with the unprecedented amount of talent on display culminating in what felt like an All-Star Game with postseason tension. In the end, D.

R. landed on the wrong side of the nail-biter, marking an abrupt end to a tournament run that at times seemed impossible to derail — at least until a foe with equal star power stood in its path. “Just unbelievable,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said postgame.

“That was high-level baseball at its finest. ” About two-and-a-half hours before he lingered forlorn in the dugout as the USA players traded high-fives in the infield, Caminero delivered the Dominicans yet another jolt of baseballing electricity. Facing super-ace Paul Skenes, who swiftly recorded five outs on 14 pitches to begin the game, Caminero uncorked his thunderous, right-handed swing and connected with a high-and-away sweeper on a 1-2 count, sending the ball over the left-field wall for a solo shot to open the scoring.