MIAMI.- Before Luis Severino threw the first pitch, the crowd let out a unison “USA, USA, USA,” which reappeared when the 27th out fell. It was the only thing heard at loanDepot Park after the United States’ 2-1 victory over the Dominican Republic, which gave it a ticket to the final of the World Baseball Classic for the second consecutive year.
The ninth inning of the first semifinal of the World Baseball Classic featured two high-intensity battles. And although there were two lawsuits, there was only going to be one winner. Mason Miller and Geraldo Perdomo fought on the field, the fans in the stands. Everything from the harmony of competitiveness. But it was the US that celebrated.
The match was played before a sold out crowd of 36,337 fans, who filled the loanDepot Park and turned the semi-final into a scene of constant pressure for both teams.
At the same time that the right-hander challenged the Quisqueyan, the public exchanged a thunderous “yes we can, yes we can,” encouraging the Dominican Republic players for a comeback, while the other part of the audience chanted “USA, USA, USA.” The scene summed up the atmosphere of a vibrant semi-final, with two fans dedicated and a closing game full of tension.
After eight pitches, head umpire Cory Blaser called the third strike against an 89-mile slider that, according to MLB.com’s play by play, fell outside the strike zone. With that throw the private duel between Miller and Perdomo ended, but the fate of the match was also sealed. The dramatic out 27 unleashed the celebration of the Americans and prolonged the chorus of “USA, USA, USA” for several more minutes in the stadium stands.
“I’m not going to focus on that last pitch. I put things in God’s hands and this was not the Dominican’s year, not because we haven’t prepared. I thank all the guys, especially Austin Wells, who although he wasn’t born in our country did a great job,” said the manager of the Dominicans, Albert Pujols.
The game had been defined earlier, thanks to a home run by Roman Anthony, preceded by another in the same fourth inning by Gunnar Henderson. Those two hits, combined with tight pitching from the North American team, made the difference in a game that remained close until the last moment.
With the victory, the United States advanced to the final of the World Baseball Classic for the second consecutive edition. In 2023, the Americans failed in the final against the Japanese – eliminated on Saturday by Venezuela this year – delivering the last out with a strikeout by Mike Trout, their figure of the moment.
Now, the Americans will have the opportunity to go for their second title in this tournament, after winning in 2017. In this edition, the only team that has been able to beat the United States has been Italy, which faces Venezuela this Monday to define the rival of the Americans in the grand final to be held on Tuesday.
