USA stifles Dominican Republic's offense to make WBC final - ESPN

MIAMI — Dominican shortstop Geraldo Perdomo threw his hands up in the air in disgust and United States closer Mason Miller lifted them in celebration.

Miller's full count slider sailed below the strike zone but was called a strike by home-plate umpire Cory Blaser on Sunday night, giving Team USA a 2-1 victory in a star-studded World Baseball Classic semifinal that was every bit as tense and as tightly contested as anticipated.

Trailing by one with two outs left against the game's best closer, Julio Rodriguez worked a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and reached third on a groundout. Perdomo then worked the count full and fouled off back-to-back 101-mph fastballs from Miller. The ensuing pitch clearly missed the bottom of the strike zone, but the automated-ball-strike system, which will be used on a challenge basis for the first time during the regular season, is not part of this tournament.

Perdomo was ruled out, prompting Team USA to advance to the finals against the winner between Italy and Venezuela. Fernando Tatis Jr., one of the Dominican Republic's best hitters in this tournament, loomed on deck. Half of a sold-out crowd of 36,337 erupted in jubilation. The other half could only moan.

For the better part of nine innings, though, the game delivered as expected.

The U.S. and D.R. rosters featured 25 players who were ranked within ESPN's Top 100. The two lineups for the semifinals have combined for 56 All-Star Games, nine Gold Gloves, 31 Silver Sluggers, five MVPs and, with Team USA starter Paul Skenes, one Cy Young Award. Their ensuing contest featured a little bit of everything, from prodigious blasts to spectacular plays to, in the end, shutdown pitching.

It began with home runs, starting with Junior