USA holds off Dominicans to reach 3rd straight WBC final

Team USA is off to the World Baseball Classic finals, eliminating the Dominican Republic with a nail-biting 2-1 win in the semifinal Sunday at loanDepot Park.

Mason Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo on a questionable called third strike as the Dominican Republic stranded the tying run at third base to end the game.

"I don't want to focus on the last pitch," Dominican manager Albert Pujols said, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. "... I'm not going to criticize any of that. It wasn't meant to be (for us)."

Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony provided all the offense Paul Skenes and five U.S. relievers would need with his fourth-inning home run off Dominican reliever Gregory Soto.

It's the third consecutive WBC finals appearance for the Americans. They won the tournament in 2017 and lost a memorable championship game to Japan three years ago.

The U.S. now awaits the winner of Monday's semifinal featuring Venezuela and Italy. New York Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean will start the final, USA manager Mark DeRosa confirmed, according to Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports. McLean, 24, started against Italy in pool play and allowed three runs in Team USA's stunning loss to the upstart Italians.

The vaunted Dominican lineup outhit Team USA 8-7, but could only muster one run on Junior Camiero's solo shot in the second inning. The Dominicans left eight runners on base, and went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Fernando Tatis Jr. ran into an inning-ending out in the third when he was thrown out by Aaron Judge while trying to take third on Ketel Marte's single.

Skenes allowed just the one run on six hits in 4 1/3 innings before yielding to Tyler Rogers, who got Juan Soto to hit into a double play and strand two runners. Rogers, Griffin Jax, David Bednar, Garrett Whitlock, and Miller combined to allow just two hits and three baserunners.