The Team USA offense has gotten red hot at the right time. On Sunday night, they were able to dominate Cuba, 14-2, in Miami as they have reached the World Baseball Classic final for the second consecutive time. They await the winner of the Mexico-Japan semifinal, which will be played tomorrow night.
It did not look good early as Cuba got on the board first against Adam Wainwright. After three straight singles and a walk, Cuba led 1-0 before even having one out. Wainwright was able to limit the damage to that lone run and it kept the game from getting out of hand early.
The offense got going in a hurry in the bottom of the first. Mookie Betts led off the frame with a double and he came around to score on a Paul Goldschmidt two-run home run to put the stars and stripes up 2-1.
GOLDY GOES YARD 💪
Team USA takes the lead!!
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/1zUA3hHkZC
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 19, 2023
Trea Turner picked up right where he left off Saturday night as he hit a solo home run in the second to extend the lead to 3-1. That was the last run Roenis Elías game up in his short start for Cuba. He went two innings, allowed three runs on four hits, walked a batter, and struck out one on 38 pitches (22 strikes).
In the bottom of the third, Pete Alonso drove in his first run of the WBC. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Alonso singled to left to put the USA up 4-1. The lead later became 5-1 on a sacrifice fly by Tim Anderson.
Pete Alonso drives in a run 💪🇺🇸
Team USA leads 4-1!
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/ZPoRgvJ6O1
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2023
The USA added two more runs in the fourth on an RBI triple by Nolan Arenado and a wild pitch on a Kyle Schwarber walk that allowed him to score.
With the game already being broke open, the USA added two more runs in the fifth. Cuba had cut the lead to 7-2, but the offense kept extending the lead. Alonso was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Jeff McNeil came in to pinch-hit for Anderson, McNeil drew one of his two walks and Turner singled to load the bases. Three batters later, Goldschmidt drove in two runs with a base hit to right field.
Goldy locked in 🦅
Team USA leads 9-2 🇺🇸
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/HfAhPlSVaC
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2023
Turner hit his second home run of the night in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run home run, his fourth of the WBC to put Team USA up by double-digits. The Phillies shortstop went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and he has 10 RBIs during this tournament.
TREA TURNER CANNOT BE STOPPED 🔥🇺🇸
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/7RwnIEADon
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 20, 2023
Team USA hit their fourth home run of the night in the eighth when Cedric Mullins hit a pinch-hit home run in the eighth. Out of the 14 hits that the offense had, eight of them went for extra bases. As they head to the final, the team has scored 49 runs in the tournament.
USA’s 49 runs are 6th-most in a single WBC, behind only:
2006 JPN: 60
2017 PUR: 55
2009 KOR: 53
2009 JPN: 50
2009 USA: 50— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 20, 2023
Since Team USA had a big lead, they were able to use only three pitchers, which was huge considering the amount of arms they used Saturday night. Wainwright (2-0) picked up the win as he went four innings, allowed one run on five hits, walked a batter, and struck out one on 64 pitches (42 strikes).
Wainwright’s teammate in St. Louis, Miles Mikolas, piggybacked him with four strong innings of his own. He allowed one run on six hits and struck out three on 77 pitches (52 strikes). Aaron Loup ended up pitching the ninth and allowed a hit in a scoreless inning.
Next Game
Team USA will play Mexico or Japan in the championship game on Tuesday night. You can catch the game on FS1 at 7 p.m ET. Mark DeRosa has yet to name a starter for the game.
“It looks like it’s Merrill Kelly’s day. We’ll sit down and discuss it further.”
– USA manager on who may start in the WBC final for Team USA pic.twitter.com/smpjhgyxtB
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) March 20, 2023