The defending champion United States blasted past Cuba 14-2 on Sunday night to advance to their second straight World Baseball Classic final. Trea Turner hit a pair of home runs to give himself a tournament-high four.
Almost 24 hours after his game-winning grand slam on Saturday, Turner, who had never previously opened a game batting ninth in his order, blasted two additional home runs with four RBI on Sunday. His 10 RBI are also a tournament record, and his four home runs are the most by an American player in the WBC’s history.
First inning score: 2 runs, second inning score: 1 run, third inning score: 2 runs, fourth inning score: 2 runs, fifth inning score: 2 runs, sixth inning score: 4 runs. Trea Turner’s solo home run in the second inning helped USA score in each of the first six innings.
Goldschmidt’s home run was just the beginning of a Stars and Stripes offensive outburst that saw them defeat a fatigued Cuban team 14-2 and advance to 카지노사이트 the World Baseball Classic championship game. For Cuba, whose roster doesn’t do justice to the sheer number of talented players who call the island nation home, it was always going to be a difficult task. Cuba appeared worse for wear after returning from the kind of international excursion that would make Matthew Henson’s head spin.
USA is the third team, after Japan and Puerto Rico, to participate in back-to-back WBC title matches. They will try to become the first back-to-back champions in WBC history, joining the Japan teams from 2006 and 2009. Prior to winning the 2017 WBC, the USA only made it as far as the second round in the WBCs from 2006, 2009, and 2013.
“They’re swinging the bats good, they’re having fun being around each other, they’re passing the baton, they’re not having selfish ABs, constant pressure,” said manager Mark DeRosa.
“I’m blown away by the way these guys control the strike zone. Trea Turner’s in the zone right now, hitting everything he sees. Was able to get everybody in there, have some fun, relax, and let the pitchers do their thing.”
The first four batters for Cuba combined for three infield hits and a bases-loaded walk off Wainwright, who added to his early woes by failing to field a pair of grounders, to the cheers of the home crowd. In four innings, Wainwright gave up five hits and one run. Miles Mikolas, a Cardinals teammate, pitched the final five innings.
Cuba’s national team, which won gold in the Olympics in 1992, 1996, and 2004, has struggled recently as many of its best players have moved to Major League Baseball. Cuba was unable to earn a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
While Turner once again stole the show on the field, but the game was kept inviolate by increased security both inside and outside the ballpark. The fact that Cuba was playing its first game in Miami sparked modest, peaceful protests outside the field, but there were no reports of violence.
Next for Cuba is a journey back home. They have been eliminated. The USA’s championship game will take place in Miami on Tuesday night. They will play the winner of Monday night’s semifinal between Japan and Mexico. Team USA has yet to name a 사설토토 starting pitcher, and they might wait to do so until they know who their opposition will be. Brady Singer, Merrill Kelly, or Kyle Freeland are the most likely candidates.
