Team USA survived a tense battle against the powerful Dominican Republic national baseball team, winning 2–1 in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic to advance to the championship game.

The game’s decisive moment came in the fourth inning when Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each launched solo home runs, giving the United States the only offense it would need.

The Dominican Republic struck first with a solo homer from Junior Caminero, but the American pitching staff — led by Paul Skenes — shut down a Dominican lineup that had been one of the most explosive in the tournament.

The drama continued until the final inning. With runners threatening and Fernando Tatis Jr. waiting on deck, closer Mason Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo to seal the win — though the final pitch sparked controversy after appearing below the strike zone.

Despite the heartbreak, the Dominican squad pushed one of the tournament favorites to the limit. Team USA now heads to its third straight World Baseball Classic final, chasing its first title since 2017.