Paul Skenes, Team USA Advance to 2026 WBC Final, Thrill Fans With Win vs. Dominican Republic

Paul Skenes and Team USA defeated the Dominican Republic 2-1 on Sunday to advance to the 2026 World Baseball Classic final.

Team USA has not won the WBC since its lone title in 2017 and will now await its opponent in the championship game.

The United States will face the winner of Monday's semifinal matchup between Italy and Venezuela.

Ace Skenes set the tone for the United States, pitching 4.1 innings with two strikeouts while allowing six hits and one earned run.

Garrett Whitlock followed with a strong eighth inning, recording two strikeouts, and closer Mason Miller shut the door in the ninth with two more strikeouts to secure the win and send Team USA to the WBC finals.

Junior Caminero kicked off the scoring for the Dominican Republic after both teams were held scoreless through the first inning. In the bottom of the second, he launched a solo home run to give the Dominican Republic a 1-0 lead.

The United States remained scoreless until the top of the fourth when Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony put on a home run clinic, each belting solo shots. Anthony's 421-foot blast gave Team USA a 2-1 edge. 

Aaron Judge was hunting for his third home run of the tournament in the top of the fifth before being robbed by Julio Rodríguez, who made a gravity-defying catch at the wall.

Defense took over midway through the fourth inning as key United States players made clutch plays in the field, holding the powerhouse Dominican Republic — which averaged 10 runs per game — to just a solo run to secure the impressive win.