The United States secured a spot in the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals on Friday night, defeating Canada 5-3 in a quarterfinal clash at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Aaron Judge delivered a crucial double, while Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brice Turang each collected two hits as the Americans built an early lead and held on through a tense late-game rally by the Canadians. The victory sets up a highly anticipated semifinal showdown between the United States and the Dominican Republic on Sunday at loanDepot park in Miami.
The Americans wasted no time taking control of the game. Bobby Witt Jr. reached base with one out in the first inning, and Judge followed with a sharp double. Kyle Schwarber then drove in Witt with a groundout to give Team USA a 1-0 lead. The advantage grew in the third inning when Alex Bregman singled with the bases loaded and two outs. A throwing error by Abraham Toro sent his throw sailing over Josh Naylor at first base and into the dugout, allowing two additional runs to score and pushing the lead to 3-0.
Team USA continued to apply offensive pressure in the sixth inning. Roman Anthony singled with one out, and Cal Raleigh drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Turang then delivered a clutch single to center field, scoring Anthony and extending the lead to 4-0. Crow-Armstrong immediately followed with another RBI single, driving in Raleigh to make it 5-0 and seemingly putting the game out of reach for Canada.
However, Canada refused to go quietly. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Canadians mounted a spirited comeback, highlighted by Bo Naylor crushing a two-run home run. Canada scored three runs in the frame, cutting the deficit to 5-3 and injecting new life into their tournament hopes. The rally sent a jolt of energy through the crowd and put pressure on the American pitching staff to shut the door.
The United States bullpen proved equal to the challenge. Relievers David Bednar, Garrett Whitlock, and closer Mason Miller combined to blank Canada over the final three innings, extinguishing any hopes of a Canadian comeback. Miller was particularly dominant in the ninth inning, striking out the side to seal the save and send Team USA through to the next round. The performance underscored the depth and talent available to the American roster in this tournament.
The semifinal matchup between the United States and the Dominican Republic promises to be one of the most compelling games of the entire tournament. The Dominican Republic advanced to the semifinals after routing South Korea 10-0 in a mercy-rule victory earlier on Friday. Paul Skenes is expected to take the mound for the Americans, while Luis Severino will pitch for the Dominicans. The game is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic, the sixth edition of the premier international baseball tournament organized by Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Softball Confederation, features 20 national teams competing for global supremacy. With the quarterfinals continuing on Saturday as Puerto Rico faces Italy in Houston and Venezuela takes on Japan in Miami, the tournament is generating tremendous excitement and viewership around the world. Baseball fans eagerly await the semifinals and the championship final, which will crown the next World Baseball Classic champion.
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