Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic to secure a spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) final.
The United States won 2-1 against the Dominican Republic in the semifinal held at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 16 (Korea time). With this victory, Team USA has reached the final in three consecutive WBC tournaments, following their championship in 2017 and runner-up finish in 2023.
Team USA will face the winner of the Italy-Venezuela match scheduled for March 17. The final will be held at the same venue on March 18. The United States has won the WBC once in the previous five tournaments, claiming the title in 2017.
The Dominican Republic struck first in this match. Having eliminated South Korea 10-0 in a seven-inning mercy rule game in the quarterfinals, the Dominican Republic took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays) launched a solo home run off Team USA starter Paul Skines (Pittsburgh Pirates), connecting on a 135.8 km/h sweeper on the fourth pitch.
However, Team USA rallied in the top of the fourth inning. Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore Orioles) led off with a solo home run to right field after battling through a nine-pitch at-bat against Dominican starter Luis Severino (Athletics). With one out and a pitching change, Roman Anthony (Boston Red Sox) hit a go-ahead solo home run off reliever Gregory Soto (Pittsburgh), giving the Americans a 2-1 lead. Neither team scored again for the remainder of the game.
Team USA starter Skines earned the win, pitching 4⅓ innings while allowing six hits and one run. The Dominican Republic, the 2013 champions seeking to reclaim the throne after 13 years, fell short at the doorstep of the final.