USA's Mark DeRosa Explains Not Using Mason Miller in 9th Inning of WBC Final Loss to Venezuela

The needs of Team USA and desires of the San Diego Padres clashed to prevent Mason Miller from appearing in the United States' 3-2 loss to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday night.

U.S. manager Mark DeRosa explained after the game that Miller was only going to be available in a save situation, as the Padres requested going into the game.

After the U.S. tied the game at two on Bryce Harper's two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, Garrett Whitlock took the ball to open the ninth inning. He walked Luis Arraez to leadoff the frame, then gave up an RBI double to Eugenio Suárez.

Tyler Rogers came in and recorded the final two outs of the top of the ninth, but the U.S. was retired in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

It wasn't a certainty that Miller would be available at all after throwing 22 pitches to close out America's 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic in the semifinal on Sunday. He also threw 18 pitches in the ninth inning of the quarterfinal win over Canada on Friday.

Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters on Monday that Miller's availability would be determined based on an evaluation of where he was at physically by their coaching and training staff.

"Not ruled out, not decided," Stammen said. "How we do with every pitcher, we evaluate them after their outing, see how they feel and then calculate when their next outing's going to be. So he's in that same boat."

DeRosa confirmed a few hours before first pitch that Miller was available, but he would only be used in a potential save situation.

Since Team USA was technically the home team on Tuesday, it does complicate things a little bit because the old motto in MLB is to use your closer in a tie game in the ninth at home.

The WBC is more complicated because the teams are also trying to keep players, particularly pitchers, on a set schedule because they have to get ready for the MLB regular season.

Tuesday's game was a perfect example of that push-pull dynamic. It put the U.S. in a situation where it couldn't use its best reliever, but all credit goes to the Venezuela pitching staff for holding Team USA's potent lineup to just three hits total.