Dominica Is Not Enough to Overpower 'Cold Game' and 'Villain' Beauty!→ You're out after being tied to an iron-walled bullpen [Miami Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

The Dominican Republic's run, which gained momentum by winning an overwhelming "cold game victory" against the Korean baseball team, was blocked by the U.S. wall of the "baseball closing price." Although he showed his firepower to break the record for the most home runs in the tournament, it was not enough to break through the U.S. iron wall bullpen with a "villain" frame on various preferential suspicions.

Dominica lost 1-2 in the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Rondipo Park in Miami, Florida at 9 a.m. on the 16th (Korea time).

Dominica, who showed powerful firepower with a 10-0 cold game victory over South Korea on the 14th, packed up by being tied to one point. The U.S. reached the final by turning the game around based on outstanding bullpen pitchers. It will try to regain the top spot for the first time in nine years since winning the 2017 WBC against the winner of Italy and Venezuela on the 17th.

On this day, the U.S. set up a starting lineup of Bobby Wit Jr. (striker), Bryce Harper (first baseman), Aaron Judge (right fielder), Kyle Schwarber (designated hitter), Gunnar Henderson (third baseman), Will Smith (catcher), Roman Anthony (left fielder), Bryce Turang (second baseman), and Pete Crow-Armstrong (middle fielder). The starting pitcher was Paul Skins (Pittsburgh Pirates).

Against this, the Dominican Republic countered with Fernando Tatis Jr. (right fielder), Ketel Marte (second baseman), Juan Soto (left fielder), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (first baseman), Manny Machado (third baseman), Junior Caminero (designated hitter), Julio Rodriguez (center fielder), Austin Wells (catcher), and Heraldo Perdomo (striker). Compared to against South Korea / vs. Korea on the 14th, only the catcher changed from Agustin Ramirez to Austin Wells. Luis Severino (Athletics) came out as the starting pitcher.

It was Dominica's job to take the first place. With two outs and no runners in the bottom of the second inning, Caminero hit Skins' four pitches (84.4 miles sweeper) with one ball and two strikes to hit the wall in left-center. It was Dominica's 15th home run of the tournament. With this home run, Dominica set a new record for the most team home runs ever in a single WBC tournament. After confirming that it was a home run, Caminero threw the bat to boost the atmosphere.

However, in the top of the fourth inning, the U.S. also responded with firepower and turned the game around. Leadoff hitter Henderson hit a tying solo shot against Severino, and added a solo home run to lead 2-1 against pitcher Gregory Soto, who changed to Anthony after one out. He brought the lead for the first time with two home runs.

The U.S., which succeeded in turning the tables, immediately entered "defending baseball." Starter Paul Skins threw well with six hits (one home run) and two strikeouts and one run in four ⅓ innings. After that, the U.S. bench began a full-fledged bullpen offensive in the fifth inning.

Starting with Tyler Rogers in the fifth inning, he pitched professional bullpen agents such as Griffin Jax (Tampa Bay Rays), David Bednar (New York Yankees), Garrett Witlock (Boston Red Sox), and Mason Miller (San Diego Padres) to prevent them from going 1 inning at a time. In particular, Bednar struck out Tatis Jr. and Marte in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out and runners on the first and third bases, which was truly overwhelming.

San Diego closer Miller, who took the mound in his last save situation, faced a crisis of one out and second base in the ninth inning, but did not lose a run and ended the game.

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*This content was translated by AI.