Team USA starting pitcher Paul Skenes, in perhaps the most clutch pitching performance by anyone in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, limited a powerful Dominican Republic lineup to one run in 4.1 innings Sunday.
Home runs by Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony held up, and the United States hung on for a 2-1 victory.
Advertisement
MORE: Japan makes big change immediately after shocking WBC loss
Afterward, in a postgame interview with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, Skenes revealed a “heavy” message he received from a former Air Force Academy teammate earlier in the day.
“I don’t know where he’s stationed right now but he said he was going to wake up at 3 a.m. to watch the game,” Skenes told Rosenthal. “Puts it into perspective — if this isn’t perspective enough already. It’s heavy stuff. For us playing a game, against a bunch of people that we know and we play all the time, it’s heavy. It’s an absolute honor to be able to do it.”
Skenes, the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, was tabbed to start for the U.S. against its toughest opponent yet in the tournament. The Dominicans had scored 51 runs through their first five games of the tournament.
Advertisement
Skenes allowed six hits, including a solo home run by Junior Caminero, in less than five innings of work. But he benefitted from an assist in right field by Aaron Judge when the Yankees star threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. at third base in the third inning.
In the fifth inning, after Skenes bequeathed a runner to reliever Tyler Rogers, Juan Soto grounded into an inning-ending double play to escape the jam.
In a star-studded game in both dugouts, the U.S. prevailed when Mason Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo on a called strike three in the ninth inning. They will face either Venezuela or Italy for the WBC championship on Tuesday in Miami.
Advertisement
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —
NFL: Updated 2026 NFL salary cap space for all 32 teams after first free agency wave
MARCH MADNESS: 2026 March Madness bracket, full list of NCAA Tournament dates
OSCARS: 2026 Oscars Governors Ball menu by Wolfgang Puck revealed
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Team USA, Dominican Republic starting lineups for WBC semifinal
GOLF: 2026 Players Championship payouts for full $25M pursue
VIRAL: Miami Open introduces Love All Frosé cocktail in eye-catching cup
The post Paul Skenes reveals ‘heavy’ message he received before WBC semifinal appeared first on The Big Lead.
