Team USA has advanced to the World Baseball Classic final for the third consecutive time. They did so on the back of a very controversial call. The Dominican Republic is going home, but they have a legitimate gripe that the umpires are partially responsible for their early exit.
Team USA survives WBC semifinal on strike three call
Team USA had clawed to a 2-1 lead early in the World Baseball Classic semifinal with the Dominican Republic. The Dominican offense was scorching hot until that game, but they remained a threat throughout, and the Americans could never breathe.
That included the Dominicans’ final attempt at a rally in the bottom of the ninth inning. The tying run was on third with two outs, and Geraldo Perdomo appeared to draw a walk to put the go-ahead run on base. With Fernando Tatis Jr. and the top of the loaded DR lineup coming up next, that could’ve been a monumental moment.
Instead, Mason Miller’s final pitch that appeared to be a few inches below the strike zone was called a third strike. He was very frustrated, but the game was over. There is no ABS in the World Baseball Classic. Perdomo was called out, and the Dominican Republic’s dream run was over.
Perdomo said, “I knew 100% it was a ball. I knew it.” Juan Soto said after the game that he still believes they showed which country is the best in baseball. “We showed the world who’s the best team in baseball,” Soto said. “That’s all I got to say.”
“It’s part of the game,” Dominican Republic general manager Nelson Cruz said. “You lost by inches. We’ll have ABS in a few years, so hopefully next time we can challenge plays like that. This event is really good for baseball. You have regular fans that love the game — and you have people who don’t pay attention and you’re attracting them.”
Perdomo echoed that sentiment in another comment, saying the Dominican Republic had plenty of chances to score more than one run and leave that final at-bat moot. “It was the whole tournament, but we didn’t lose the game right there. That’s a part of the game, and I hope we do better next time,” he said.
Team USA moves on to final
Team USA will face either Italy or Venezuela. The Italians beat the Americans in Pool Play in one of the most surprising upsets this World Baseball Classic. The Dominican Republic is going home, but they’re not going to focus on the one pitch that ended it.
“I’m not going to focus on that last pitch,” DR manager Albert Pujols. “This has been a tremendous game between two tremendous teams. I feel incredibly grateful for the guys who represented us in this Classic. Once more, we raised our flag high in this Classic and left our mark, and I think our country is very proud.”
“That’s what you dream about as a kid — getting a chance to be in that moment, be in front of these fans,” Aaron Judge said about the thriller of a contest. “That was definitely special. I think you ask any guy in this clubhouse, on both sides, it was definitely a special game tonight.”
Bryce Harper agreed. “I think fans in baseball and all over the world watched this game tonight and had a blast watching it,” he said. “That’s two juggernauts going at it right there.” It’s easier to say that after having won such a contest, admittedly.
Defense and pitching won out in a game that featured Fernando Tatis Jr., Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Junior Caminero, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Juan Soto, Bobby Witt Jr., and many other superstar offensive players.
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