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World Baseball Classic Recap: USA beats Dominican Republic after controversial strike three call
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Photo credit: © Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Mar 16, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: Mar 16, 2026, 18:57 EDT
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Major League Baseball implemented the ABS challenge system for the 2026 season.
It’s a great system that will give the pitcher, catcher, and batters a chance to overturn incorrect calls. If the call is upheld, the team will lose the challenge, which is a bit of a problem as each team has just two challenges. It doesn’t take long to get the answer and it’s a terrific addition.
Unfortunately, the 2026 World Baseball Classic doesn’t have it, and because of the lack of the ABS challenge system, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Dominican Republic are going home early. On Sunday evening, they fell 2-1 to the United States, as the American will play in the finals.
The DR took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as Junior Caminero hit his third home run of the tournament, a solo blast. That lead lasted until the top of the fourth, as Gunnar Henderson hit a solo blast to tie the game up at one. Two batters later, Roman Anthony hit his second home run of the tournament to give the USA a 2-1 lead. They’d never relinquish it, as that was it for scoring.
That said, DR had their chances. In the bottom of the fourth, they had the bases loaded, but Austin Wells flew out to end the inning. Three innings later, the Dominican Republic had two runners in scoring position, but Fernando Tatís Jr. and Ketel Marte both struck out swinging.
While the Dominican Republic didn’t threaten in the bottom of the eighth, they didn’t get a chance as Juan Soto “struck out looking”. And by that, I mean he took a pitch that was well below the strike zone, only to be rung up. Guerrero Jr. grounded out, and Manny Machado struck out swinging to give the DR just three more outs.
Junior Caminero began the bottom of the ninth, and struck out to give the Dominican Republic just two more outs until their tournament was over. Julio Rodríguez walked, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Oneil Cruz grounded out, moving the tying runner to third, but giving the DR just one more out.
Geraldo Perdomo stepped up to the plate for the Dominican Republic, looking to save their tournament. He went down 1-2 early, but took two consecutive balls to give himself a full count. The sixth and seventh pitch were fouled off, and the eighth pitch was so far below the zone that there was no way an umpire could ever call it strike three, right? Wrong.
It’s a disgraceful way to end an otherwise exciting and stressful game. The Dominican Republic failed to hit with runners in scoring position, and that was a big reason why they lost, but calling a ball a strike when the pitch is a foot below the zone should never happen. Especially to end a team’s tournament.
The USA will know their opponent in the finals after Monday’s game, as Venezuela takes on Italy at 8:00 PM ET. As for the finals, that will be on Tuesday at 8:00 PM ET. If Venezuela wins, at least one Toronto Blue Jay will go home a winner.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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