The United States prevailed over the Dominican Republic in a World Baseball Classic game with a controversial finish — and one New York Yankees legend isn’t thrilled with how it went down.
The United States beat a loaded Dominican team 2-1 thanks to a pair of solo home runs and a contested game-ending strikeout. The ending drew quite a bit of controversy, prompting one longtime American pitcher to call it out.
Yankees Legend Not Happy About USA’s Ending
After a thrilling matchup of pitching from both teams, the game between Team USA and the Dominican Republic ended on what Yahoo Sports called a clear missed call.
“Sunday’s game came down to the final pitch,” the report noted. “In the bottom of the ninth inning, Perdomo worked the count full with two outs and the tying run on third. That’s when Miller, the U.S.’s closer, delivered a 100.9-mph fastball that was called strike three — despite not being anywhere near the zone.”
After the game, longtime Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia took to social media to celebrate his country’s win while also bemoaning the controversy that came at the end.
“And I don’t agree with that call to end it…ABS!” Sabathia wrote in a Facebook post.
The strikeout was a fitting ending after Team USA’s pitching staff dominated a Dominican Republic lineup that had been averaging more than 10 runs per game. The Dominican team’s only run game on a two-out home run from Junior Caminero in the second inning.
Though the Dominican team threatened several times, the American pitchers were able to work their way out of jams in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings before Miller closed the door in the ninth.
Another Yankees Star Thrilled With Win
Yankees star Aaron Judge said he was excited to beat such a star-studded Dominican Republic team, pushing Team USA to the title game.
“This is what you dream about as a kid, playing with the best of the best,” Aaron Judge said after the win, via USA Today. “We’ve got the best squad out there. They’ve got the best squad out there. It’s what you play when you’re in your backyard playing Wiffle Ball. It’s moments like this you dream about.”
Judge also praised his teammates for their selfless approach to the tournament.
“Each guy checked their ego at the door and stepped in here and threw on the USA [jersey],” Judge said, “and they’re representing their country the right way. So it’s been an absolute blast.”
Team USA first baseman Bryce Harper also shared love for the different styles that each team has brought to the World Baseball Classic.
“That’s what’s so great about our game,” Harper said. “Japan plays a certain game. America plays a certain game. Latin American countries play a certain game. We’re all in this tournament feeding off of playing a great game, and that’s what makes our game so great is there’s so many different cultures that play this game.
“I can’t dance a lick like [Fernando] Tatis can, but I have fun playing this game.”
Yankees Legend Calls Out Controversial USA-Dominican Republic WBC Ending