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The atmosphere at loanDepot park felt less like a playoff tilt and more like a national holiday. Team USA edged the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a tense World Baseball Classic semifinal, powered by a standout start from Paul Skenes and lockdown relief pitching. Captain Aaron Judge savored the moment and delivered one of the game’s most memorable defensive plays.
Pitching carried the day: Skenes sets the tone, bullpen closes it out
Paul Skenes answered the occasion with a composed outing that kept a stacked Dominican lineup off balance. His early innings set the foundation for a low-scoring battle.
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- Skenes handed the ball to a bullpen that refused to give up the lead.
- Relievers combined to neutralize late threats and preserve the 2-1 result.
- The final score underscored how pitching depth can decide international tournaments.
Judge’s perspective and a play that swung momentum
Aaron Judge spoke about the crowd, the stakes, and how the game felt different from even the biggest MLB nights. He said the WBC’s atmosphere was more electric than the World Series and that the passion of fans representing their countries gave him chills.
At the plate Judge struggled at times, including a strikeout with runners in scoring position early on. Still, his defense became the story. In the third inning, he fired a laser from right field to cut down Fernando Tatis Jr. trying to take third. That throw ended the inning and became a defining moment.
Judge’s recent big-game résumé
- Judge played in the 2024 World Series with the Yankees.
- He delivered a Game 5 home run during that series.
- He also experienced a costly moment in that same World Series, which adds context to how meaningful his defensive play was here.
What the semifinal win means for Team USA’s WBC run
The victory sends Team USA to the WBC final. The Americans are now one step away from claiming the title.
- Team USA has reached three straight WBC championship games.
- They won the tournament in 2017 and fell to Japan in 2023.
- The only loss this year came against Italy in pool play.
Who awaits and when the title game arrives
Venezuela and Italy will play the other semifinal to determine the opponent. The championship is set for Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern. Fans should expect another intense, emotion-filled environment.
