Team US reaches WBC final by downing Cuba 14-2

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Hangzhou Asian Games

Mon, October 2, 2023 | 23:23

Team US reaches WBC final by downing Cuba 14-2

Posted : 2023-03-20 18:45

Updated : 2023-03-20 18:45

U.S. first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, 46, runs toward third base after a base hit from third baseman Nolan Arenado, not pictured, during the first inning against Venezuela at LoanDepot Park. Yonhap

Team U.S. punched its ticket to the World Baseball Classic final on Sunday when the Americans' bats came alive as they trounced Cuba 14-2 in the semifinals.

With the win at Miami's loanDepot Park in Florida, Team U.S. has earned the chance to be crowned back-to-back World Baseball Classic champions, a title only held by one other nation ― Japan, which won in 2006 and 2009.

Though to gain that title the Americans will first have to beat the winner of either Japan or Mexico who play in their semifinal game on Monday.

Team U.S. earned its spot in the finals by scoring consistently and often in its win over Cuba on Sunday, going only one inning without scoring a run and the bottom half of the ninth being unneeded.

The win came off another strong performance by Trea Turner of the Philadelphia Phillies who was 3-5 at the plate, netting 2 home runs, 4 RBIs and a run.

Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals also had a two-run homer and 4 RBIs in the win.

Adam Wainwright #50 of Team U.S. pitches in the third inning against Team Cuba during the World Baseball Classic Semifinals at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, March 19. AFP-Yonhap

However, very early in the game, it looked liked the Americans had a challenge ahead of them, going down by one run in the top of the first, but Goldschmidt set the tone by nailing his home-run shot with a man on second in the bottom half of the inning, which gave Team U.S. a lead it would not look back from.

Cuba would net its second and final run in the fifth to narrow the score to 7-2, but the Americans continued to pull away, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fifth and another four in the sixth. Team U.S.'s final run came in the bottom of the eight, the Americans' last at bat.

The World Cup Classic final is set for Tuesday in Miami. (UPI)

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