Team USA will be playing for the WBC championship this Tuesday after a nailbiter of a game where they held off the Dominican Republic for a 2-1 victory in a game that was entirely decided by solo home runs: two for Team USA (Gunnar Henderson, Roman Anthony) vs. just one for Team DR (Junior Caminero). The game ended on a controversial call in a 3-2 count where this slider from Mason Miller to Geraldo Perdomo was ruled strike three and…well. You can judge for yourself.
The highlight for Mariners for this game is Julio Rodríguez. After a scary HBP in the fourth where he took 98 from Paul Skenes off the wrist, he robbed this would-be home run from Aaron Judge:
Julio didn’t have a hit but he had a clutch walk in the ninth inning where he was actually the tying runner on third when Perdomo was called out on strikes.
Aside from the controversial ninth inning, Team DR had a chance to tie the game up or even go ahead in the fourth, when Skenes was on the ropes: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled, Manny Machado singled, and then Julio was hit by the pitch to load the bases with two outs, but Austin Wells flew out to end the inning. Similarly, they had another chance in the fifth, with two on (back-to-back singles from Fernando Tatís Jr. and Ketel Marte) and one out, but Team USA made a pitching change, bringing in Tyler Rogers, who got Juan Soto to ground into an inning-ending double play.
Team USA now advances to the semifinals, meaning the Mariners will be without their catcher a while longer. Cal Raleigh did not play in last night’s game, as Will Smith got the start instead. Gabe Speier also did not pitch, with Skenes working into the fifth inning, which the Pirates can’t be thrilled about.
Today’s semifinal game will determine which team faces Team USA in Tuesday’s final: Italy or Venezuela. Team Italy will start Aaron Nola, and Team Venezuela will start Keider Montero. Representing the Mariners in the contest will be Dominic Canzone for Team Italy and Eduard Bazardo for Team Venezuela. Miles Mastrobuoni, who was with Team Italy, has returned to Mariners camp to receive treatment on a minor calf issue that cropped up while he was playing with Team Italy.
The game is at 5 PM PT at loanDepot Park and will be broadcast on Fs1. Who are you rooting for? Since the Mariners have an off-day today, feel free to use this as the de facto game thread.
