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The United States' victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) sparked a controversy that refuses to fade. While Dominican players and fans continue to question the umpire's decisive strike call, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa acknowledged their frustration but stood by his team.
The first WBC semifinal was a tense battle. Team USA edged out a 2-1 win, powered by starter Paul Skenes' dominant outing and a dramatic finish from Mason Miller.
In such a close game, every call counts. With shortstop Geraldo Perdomo on the plate 3-2 and two outs, Miller's final pitch appeared to be below the strike zone.
Perdomo was preparing to draw a walk, but umpire Cory Blaser called a strike, knocking Perdomo out and sealing the American victory.
DeRosa: "It was a strike"
In his postgame press conference, DeRosa struck a conciliatory tone while defending the call:
I can understand why the Dominicans are upset about it, but that ball had a lot of the plate, and Will [Smith] does a hell of a job framing back there.
He praised catcher Will Smith's elite pitch-framing skills, emphasizing that his ability to "steal" strikes was a decisive factor in the duel.
Perdomo: "I knew it was a ball"
Perdomo, however, remains convinced the call was wrong. Speaking to ESPN, the Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop insisted, "I knew 100% it was a ball. I knew it."
Still, he admitted the loss wasn't solely due to that moment:
It was the whole tournament, but we didn't lose the game right there. That's part of the game, and I hope we do better next time.
As the debate continues, Team USA now prepares to face the winner of the Italy-Venezuela matchup this Wednesday, with the 2026 WBC championship on the line.