Watch: USA Advances to World Baseball Classic Championship on Controversial Final Play
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In a World Baseball Classic semifinal in Miami, the United States defeated the Dominican Republic 2-1 to advance to the championship game against Venezuela or Italy. The decisive moment came when plate umpire Cory Blaser called strike three on Mason Miller wiht the potential tying run at third, a call Geraldo perdomo angrily contested, later saying he knew it was wrong. Perdomo and others highlighted the human element of umpires, while teammates like Pete Crow-Armstrong and bryce Harper weighed in on the situation. Miller delivered a high-velocity effort, with 13 of his 22 pitches reaching 100 mph or more, as the U.S. benefitted from key moments including a walk to Julio Rodríguez and a wild pitch that moved runners. the game occurred amid MLB’s looming Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, which is set to debut in 2026 and could be used in future WBCs; many players noted the possibility of robot umpires, though the U.S. emphasized the value of human officiating in this game. The article also includes social-media reactions and standard publication notes.
MIAMI (AP) — Ten days later, the United States and the Dominican Republic would have kept on playing.
Geraldo Perdomo watched Mason Miller’s full-count slider appear to drop just under the strike zone and took a step toward his team’s dugout on the third-base side, thinking he walked to put runners at the corners.
Then plate umpire Cory Blaser emphatically signaled strike three, stranding the potential tying run at third base and giving the United States a 2-1 win Sunday night that advanced the Americans to the World Baseball Classic championship game against Venezuela or Italy.
“He knew he was wrong,” Perdomo said. “I knew it was 100 percent wrong.”
WOW.
Miller gets the call and USA is going to the Final!! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/98RfvXKzHb
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 16, 2026
Major League Baseball’s Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System will launch when the season starts March 25, and it likely will be adopted for future editions of the WBC. The Dominicans would have been able to appeal to the so-called robot umpire if they had a challenge remaining.
“It looked a little down. Yes, I’m glad we had no ABS,” U.S. outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m happy that the human element was in full effect.”
Perdomo heard the call, found it hard to believe, and while still holding his bat lurched it overhead in an arc, nearly tapping the wood against his butt.
“We didn’t lose the game there,” the Arizona star said.
MLB announced in September that ABS will be used during the regular season and postseason in 2026 following testing that started in the minor leagues in 2019.
“I don’t want to focus on the last pitch,” Dominican manager Albert Pujols said. “I’m disappointed about the way that the game ends, but I don’t want to criticize any of that. It just wasn’t meant to be for us.”
Miller threw 13 of 22 pitches at 100 mph or higher. He gave up a one-out walk to Julio Rodríguez, who advanced to third on a wild pitch and Oneil Cruz’s groundout.
Perdomo fell behind 1-2, worked the count full, then fouled out a pair of triple-digit heaters. Miller followed with his second slider of the at-bat.
“He called strike three. That’s all I care,” American first baseman Bryce Harper said.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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