USA Eyes Lewis Hamilton as Dominant Force in Semifinals Clash
Miami — Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each hit solo home runs in the fourth inning and Team USA's pitching kept the mighty Dominican Republic lineup in check enough to secure a 2-1 victory in a World Baseball Classic semifinal on Sunday night. "That was high-level baseball at its finest," USA manager Mark DeRosa said. "Just a game that we'll remember forever.
It was three solo shots that decided the game. " The United States advanced to its third WBC final in a row and will try to win its second Classic championship and first since 2017 when it takes on the winner of the Venezuela-Italy semifinal on Tuesday night in Miami. Venezuela and Italy play their semifinal game on Monday night in Miami.
DeRosa confirmed that right-hander Nolan McLean will start Tuesday's final. The Dominican Republic fell short in its bid to win its second WBC title and what would have been its first since 2013. "It's a bitter drink but we knew that someone would be happy and the other side would be sad," Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols said.
"We have to keep our heads up because we did a tremendous job. " A lineup, which came in averaging 10. 2 runs per game in the tournament, was held to just Junior Caminero's two-out solo home run over the left field wall on an 1-2 count in the bottom of the second inning off USA starter Paul Skenes (2-0), the reigning National League Cy Young winner.
Caminero's homer was his third of the Classic and 15th for the Dominican Republic, breaking the record for most home runs in a single WBC. "The DR is the toughest lineup I've ever faced, that's for sure," said Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates ace. "I think they would say the same thing about us.
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