Team USA benefitted from a generous strike call to end Sunday’s heavyweight clash against the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic trailed 2-1 with a runner on third and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning at loanDepot park in Miami, Fla. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo worked a full count and was in defense mode against Team USA reliever Mason Miller.
After fouling off a couple of pitches to stay alive, Perdomo laid off a low slider he thought would earn him a walk. Instead, home plate umpire Cory Blaser called it the third strike to end the game in favor of the Americans.
WOW.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 16, 2026
Miller gets the call and USA is going to the Final!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/98RfvXKzHb
Here’s the slow-motion replay of the final strike, which was clearly below the zone.
A tough call to end the game pic.twitter.com/klQgw8S8Q3
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 16, 2026
Thanks to Blaser’s strike call, the Americans avoided a much hairier situation with Fernando Tatis Jr. looming on deck and the speedy Julio Rodriguez at third base, representing the tying run.
Blaser also called Juan Soto out on a low breaking ball in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Dominican slugger let him know he was not happy with the call.
Soto was not happy with this strike 3 call pic.twitter.com/Ld66gqIPUb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 16, 2026
At the very least, Blaser was consistent. Team USA also got burned by a few called strikes on low pitches from the Dominican Republic’s hurlers.
Team USA returns to the WBC Final three years after losing to Japan on a similarly drama-filled final out that pitted Shohei Ohtani against Mike Trout. Team USA awaits the winner of Italy-Venezuela, which is scheduled for Monday night.
