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USA Edges Dominican Republic 2–1 to reach WBC Final
Team USA survived a tense finish and secured a narrow 2–1 victory over the Dominican Republic in a gripping World Baseball Classic matchup that came down to the final pitch. In a game defined by tight pitching, timely hitting, and a controversial ending, the Americans managed to hold off one of the tournament’s most dangerous lineups to advance.
The contest unfolded as a classic pitcher’s duel, with both teams struggling to generate sustained offense. Every baserunner felt critical, and both defenses played clean, disciplined baseball. The United States capitalized on a pair of key opportunities to push across two runs, while their pitching staff kept the Dominican lineup largely contained despite constant pressure.
The Dominican Republic never stopped fighting. A run earlier in the game kept them within striking distance, and their lineup repeatedly threatened to turn the tide. Several at-bats throughout the night featured borderline pitches that went both ways, adding tension to nearly every inning as both dugouts reacted to tight strike zone calls.
Everything came down to the ninth inning. With the tying run looming and the Dominican crowd sensing a late comeback, the final batter stepped in with the game on the line. The decisive pitch, however, was called a strike despite appearing to fall below the zone, ending the game abruptly and sealing the United States’ victory.
Under different circumstances, the moment might have unfolded differently. The automated ball-strike challenge system (ABS), which allows hitters to challenge questionable calls by tapping their helmet, is not being used during the tournament’s early rounds because the technology was not available in every pool-play venue. Although the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship games are being played in Major League ballparks where the system could operate, the challenge mechanism remains absent. As a result, there was no opportunity for a review, and the call stood as the final word.
The game had featured several close calls throughout the night, and it’s possible the Dominican Republic could have used up its challenges earlier if the system were in place. Still, the inability to contest the final pitch left a sense of unfinished business in a matchup that had been fiercely competitive from the first inning to the last.
Dominican Republic manager Albert Pujols chose not to dwell on the controversy afterward, emphasizing the bigger picture rather than the final call.
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