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USA 2-1 DR, bottom 5th
The fifth pitch to Tatis is a curveball that’s chopped to the left side – it’s barehanded by Henderson (classy!) but the throw is off line and the Padres outfielder is safe. So that’s a one-out single for Tatis and now Marte is at the plate. How much more rope does Skenes have?
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 5th
Skenes is back, facing the bottom of the lineup and the ninth man, Perdomo, who hits an 0-2 pitch to left where it’s caught by Roman Anthony.
One down, and we’re back to the top of the DR lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr is at the plate.
USA 2-1 DR, top 5th
Henderson taps to first – Guerrero has it, steps on first and that’s the fifth for Team USA.
USA 2-1 DR, top 5th
Schwarber sneaks a ground ball through the right side of the infield – a diving Marte just missed making the play, but instead, it’s a two-out base runner. Pujols removes Mejia and will bring in Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban to face Henderson, who has a solo home run in this game.
USA 2-1 DR, top 5th
High fly ball deep to center, back goes Rodriguez, he leaps and MAKES THE CATCH!
Julio Rodriguez takes a home run away from Aaron Judge and wow! As soon as Mejia threw that ball, I said, that’s a mistake and Judge is gonna crush it. And he did, but Miami is a big ballpark, just big enough to keep Aaron in the yard.
Tremendous. Two down for Schwarber.
USA 2-1 DR, top 5th
Harper pops to left off Mejia. One down and here’s Judge.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Fly ball to left field – Roman Anthony is under it, makes the catch and that ends the DR threat. They leave the bases loaded with the Pirates ace on the ropes! To the fifth!
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Wells hits a high fastball foul, hanging in there.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Wells hits a line drive…foul! That would have cleared the bases, but instead, it’s 1-2.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
It’s 1-1 to Wells as Skenes approaches 60 pitches.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Rodriguez is hit on the wrist! That’s another two-strike hit by pitch. Is Rodriguez hurt? The trainers are taking a look at the Mariners slugger.
But bases are loaded now, and Yankees catcher, who does have a bit of pop in his bat, will step to the plate.
Rodriguez stays in the game.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Ground ball to short – Witt flips to second for one, but Turang drops a sure double play ball and can’t make the throw to first base!
Vladdy moves to third, and now Julio Rodriguez steps in with a real, two-out opportunity.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Machado hits a scorching ground ball towards the third base side of second base – Witt can’t handle it! Vladdy stays at second, so now it’s two on and one out and this is officially a jam as the home run hitter, Caminero, comes to the plate.
That’s three batters in a row where Skenes has had issues.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Jr hits a cue-ball to the wall in left field and glides into second base with a stand-up double.
I think the pitch to Soto was another mistake and now he’s given up a double. Could Skenes be fading a bit?
Machado is next.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Judge hits a line drive to right but Judge has a beat on it and falls into the dying swan, hitting the turf while making the catch! Good play for Team USA to start the fourth.
Now here’s Vladimir Guerrero, looking for a big swing.
USA 2-1 DR, bottom 4th
Skenes is back because, a: he’s awesome and why would you take him out, and b: because he’s been efficient, throwing just 38 pitches through three innings. He starts the inning with a stern test: Juan Soto, missing on his first delivery, up and away.
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Witt strikes out swinging as Mejia retires the side. But not before two taters and a US lead!
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Mejia has heat, a 98mph fastball gets by Witt to make it 1-2.
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Little come-backer to Soto, but it’s off his glove! Crow-Armstrong reaches on the E-1, and now it’s back to the top of the lineup and Witt Jr. But not before Pujols is back to remove Soto from the game after a short stint. He wants to stop this two-out rally before it pays dividends, and so he’ll bring in the Rockies righty to face the Royals biggest bat.
USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Soto gets Turang on a slider away – two outs. Now Crow-Armstrong steps in.
HOME RUN! USA 2-1 DR, top 4th
Soto works his way back into the count and it’s full! Now Anthony hits a strike deep over the wall!
It’s a solo home run to center field off the DR reliever, their second tater of the frame!
USA 1-1 DR, top 4th
FOX TV says Soto can be a little bit wild, but I can confirm Soto can be a lot of bit wild.
And suddenly he’s down in the count 3-0 to Roman Anthony.
USA 1-1 DR, top 4th
Now Will Smith gives it a ride – a fly ball to left field puts Soto on his horse and the Mets OF makes a good play, fully extending his arm while on the run to make the catch.
One down, and here comes DR manager Albert Pujols. He’s out to get his man, Luis Severino, who is now done and dusted for the WBC. He could not have asked for much more – Sevy was sharp and made just one costly mistake against a brutal US lineup.
Gregory Soto, a reliever who can struggle with his control is heading in as Pujols starts to put together the rest of his puzzle.
HOME RUN! USA 1-1 DR, top 4th
The count is full to Henderson who leads off the fourth for the Americans. Severino is up to 65 pitches – how far will he go?
Not sure, but Henderson is going a lot farther – it’s UP AND OVER THE WALL! A tater to right field ties it for TEAM USA!
FOX TV in the US says the ball Judge threw to nail Tatis at third base was the fastest ball he’s thrown in three years. Make of that what you will, but that was quality.
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
Base hit to right – Tatis rounds second and is heading to third. Judge winds up and fires a STRIKE to Gunnar Henderson to nail Tatis at the bag! Tremendous play by Judge to get the runner and end the DR threat! Fantastic!
To the fourth!
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
Now Tatis is ahead in the count 3-0. This is the first time Skenes looks a little out of sorts. He comes back with a borderline strike, so now the count is 3-1 as Skenes checks on the runner at first.
Here’s the pitch – ground ball to third and Henderson has it. He throws to second base for one, the throw to first is not in time.
So two outs on the FC, still a runner at first, and it’s up to Marte to cashh in here for the DR.
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
Two strikes on Perdomo and he is hit in the foot! Hmmm. Interesting. Two bad pitches all game by Skenes. Will that last one cost Team USA? Top of the lineup and here’s Tatis Jr with one on and one out.
USA 0-1 DR, bottom 3rd
DR manager speaks to FOX TV in the US and says nothing of any real consequence, which is not unheard of for in-game manager interviews.
So here’s Austin Wells, whose mom’s side of the family is from the DR. He’s destroyed by a 96 mph Skenes fastball for the first out.
Perdomo is in the nine hole and is up next.
USA 0-1 DR, top 3rd
Severino sneaks a sweeper by Schwarber which is not easy! Thanks to back-to-back strikeouts, Luis roars off the mound in Miami, escaping a two on, one out jam as the DR hold on to their slim lead!
