In a tense World Baseball Classic semifinal in Miami, Team USA held a 2-1 lead over the Dominican Republic late on Tuesday night as relief arms took the field and the tying run came to bat in the ninth. Paul Skenes started for the United States while Luis Severino opened for the Dominican Republic; the game featured multiple lead changes, a home run by Roman Anthony and a game-tying blast by Gunnar Henderson earlier. By 10:57 p.m. local time the Dominican Republic had the tying run aboard with Julio Rodríguez reaching on a walk, and Team USA turned to high-leverage relievers to try to secure a berth in the WBC final on Tuesday. The contest blended big-name pitching changes, defensive highlights and strategic pinch-hitting as both rosters leaned on depth and late-inning matchups.
Key takeaways
- Score late: Team USA led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth; by 10:57 p.m. the Dominican Republic had the tying run on base.
- Starting pitchers: Paul Skenes started for Team USA; Luis Severino made a 3 1/3-inning start for the Dominican Republic, allowing one run and recording six strikeouts.
- Power swings: Roman Anthony homered off Gregory Soto in the top of the fourth to put Team USA ahead 2-1; Gunnar Henderson hit a solo homer to open the fourth and tie the game 1-1.
- Bullpen activity: Paul Skenes left after five innings; Tyler Rogers, David Bednar, Garrett Whitlock and Mason Miller were used in high-leverage innings for Team USA.
- Key defensive play: Julio Rodríguez robbed Aaron Judge of a potential homer in center field in the fifth inning.
- Notable lineup note: Austin Wells is catching for the Dominican Republic and is eligible through his mother despite being born in Arizona.
- Late-game drama: David Bednar recorded consecutive strikeouts in the seventh to strand the tying and go-ahead runs and preserve a 2-1 lead.
Background
The World Baseball Classic returned in 2026 with familiar heavyweights advancing deep into the bracket; the U.S. and the Dominican Republic have each leaned on their major-league cores throughout the tournament. Historically the two countries have met multiple times in WBC play: the Dominican Republic beat the U.S. in pool play in both 2013 (3-1) and 2017 (7-5), while the 2017 quarterfinal rematch went to the United States, 6-3, on the way to America’s only prior title. Meeting in a semifinal raises stakes considerably: the winner moves to the championship game scheduled for Tuesday, and pitching allocation and bullpen rest become decisive factors.
Both rosters feature established MLB stars and rising talents. The Dominican lineup includes elite power threats — Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado and Julio Rodríguez — giving manager decisions plenty of late-inning matchup opportunities. Team USA’s roster blends veteran sluggers like Aaron Judge and Bryce Harper with younger impact bats such as Roman Anthony and Gunnar Henderson, and has emphasized starting-pitcher depth anchored by Paul Skenes.
Main event
The game opened with Paul Skenes working a clean first inning, while Luis Severino quickly showed swing-and-miss potential by fanning Bobby Witt Jr. and Bryce Harper before Aaron Judge laced a two-out single. Severino stranded runners and struck out six batters through 3 1/3 innings, keeping the early scoreboard blank until the bottom of the second.
The Dominican Republic struck first when Junior Caminero launched a solo homer to left with two outs in the second inning, putting his team ahead 1-0. Team USA responded in the fourth: Gunnar Henderson led off the fourth with a solo shot to tie the score, and moments later Roman Anthony greeted reliever Gregory Soto with a homer of his own to push the Americans in front, 2-1.
Pitching changes defined the middle innings. Paul Skenes lasted into the fifth but departed after allowing two consecutive singles; Tyler Rogers induced a double play to escape further damage in the fifth. On the Dominican side, Severino exited in the fourth after 3 1/3 innings and six strikeouts. The contest remained tight into the late innings as both managers turned to their bullpens.
In the sixth and seventh, both teams traded scoreless frames and tense moments. Huascar Brazobán fanned the side in the sixth, while David Bednar preserved a 2-1 lead by striking out Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ketel Marte with the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position in the seventh. Garrett Whitlock replaced Bednar to start the eighth and Mason Miller entered in the ninth as Team USA sought three outs to reach the final.
Analysis & implications
The matchup underscored two competing truths: the United States relies on bullpen depth to close tight games, while the Dominican Republic depends on lineup firepower to manufacture late rallies. With the score 2-1 and the tying run aboard in the ninth, managerial choices about pitch sequences, defensive alignment and use of righty/lefty relievers will determine the outcome. For Team USA, preserving Bednar and Whitlock through the eighth gave manager flexibility to deploy Miller in the ninth; how long Miller can hold against elite left- and right-handed hitters will be decisive.
For the Dominican Republic, the depth of its middle order — Soto, Guerrero Jr., Machado and Rodríguez — presents multiple run-producing options even when initial innings are quiet. Austin Wells’ tournament emergence as a switch-hitting power threat has added another dimension to the lineup and complicates pitching plans. If the D.R. manufactures a tying run in the ninth, small-ball scenarios (sacrifice bunts, well-timed steals or productive outs) could be the difference, given the scarcity of baserunners earlier in the game.
Beyond this single game, a U.S. victory would set up a championship matchup on Tuesday and reward roster construction that prioritized bullpen versatility and positional depth. A Dominican comeback would highlight the tournament’s recurring theme: deep, veteran-packed lineups can overturn narrow pitching advantages in late innings. Internationally, a dramatic finish will keep viewership strong and reinforce the WBC’s role as a showcase for MLB talent on a global stage.
Comparison & data
| Year | Stage | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Pool play | 3-1 | Dominican Republic |
| 2017 | Pool play | 7-5 | Dominican Republic |
| 2017 | Quarterfinal | 6-3 | United States |
| 2026 | Semifinal (current) | 2-1 | — (late) |
Those historical results show a competitive WBC history between the two nations, with the Dominican Republic winning the early matchups in pool play and the United States claiming a memorable quarterfinal in 2017. The 2026 semifinal adds a new chapter; a late lead for the U.S. does not yet match the decisive wins seen in past tournaments, but it does demonstrate how small margins and bullpen matchups often decide international knockout games.
Reactions & quotes
Managers and players offered succinct post-inning assessments as the game tightened. Team staff emphasized execution and matchup management; the Dominican side highlighted resilience and lineup depth as keys to a late comeback.
Team officials framed the late innings as a test of bullpen execution and situational pitching.
Team USA officials (post-inning summary)
The Dominican delegation stressed confidence in its middle-order hitters to change the game in late at-bats.
Dominican Republic staff (in-game comment)
Fans at the ballpark reacted to Julio Rodríguez’s defensive play and the late-inning tension with loud, sustained applause.
In-stadium observers
Unconfirmed
- Reports that Livvy Dunne has joined the cast of a “Baywatch” reboot and the series premiere timing are not independently confirmed by major studio releases.
- Some informal timelines about Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne meeting as LSU student-athletes were reported in social coverage and have not been verified via an official statement from LSU or the individuals involved.
Bottom line
This 2026 WBC semifinal showcased the tournament’s familiar tension: elite pitching duels punctuated by a few decisive swings and key defensive plays. With Team USA clinging to a one-run lead in the late innings and the Dominican Republic’s lineup threatening, the final outs will likely hinge on bullpen matchups, manager decisions and the ability of hitters to capitalize on one or two opportunities.
Whichever team advances will carry momentum — and roster fatigue — into the final on Tuesday; the winning side must balance short-term celebration with quick recovery planning for pitching and position-player workload. For neutral fans, the game is evidence that the WBC continues to produce tight, high-stakes contests featuring top MLB talent on the international stage.
Sources
- Times Union — News coverage and live updates (media)
- World Baseball Classic — Official tournament site (organizer)
- MLB.com — Player bios and statistics (league source)