The ‘defending champion’ USA advanced to the finals of the 5th World Baseball Classic (WBC).
On the 20th (Korean time), the U.S.메이저사이트defeated Cuba 14-2 in the semifinals of the tournament held at Londipo Park in Miami, Florida, and advanced to the final. The finals will be held on the 22nd. The winner of another semi-final match between Mexico and Japan on the 21st is the final opponent of the United States. The United States is aiming for a second consecutive championship following the 4th tournament in 2017.
America’s cohesiveness was greater. While the Cuban hitters only scored 2 runs on 12 hits, the American hitters scored 14 runs on 14 hits. In the U.S., Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals), who swept the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Silver Slugger last year, had a large share. Goldschmidt started as the third hitter and first baseman that day and took the center of the batting line with 2 hits, 1 home run and 4 RBIs in 5 at-bats. Nolan Arenado (St. Louis), who came out as the 4th hitter, added strength with 2 hits and 1 RBI in 3 at-bats. In the 1st and 9th batting order, Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers, 3 hits in 6 at-bats) and Trey Turner (Philadelphia Phillies, 3 hits in 5 at-bats, 2 home runs, 4 RBIs) were fiercely driven.
It was a game that showed the power of the home run. In the bottom of the first inning, trailing by 0-1, Goldschmidt’s two-run homer from second baseman turned the game around at once. Goldschmidt sent a 93.5 mph (approximately 150 km) fastball close to his body with an incomplete swing, but flew about 124m. Turner, who hit a come-from-behind final home run in the quarterfinal match against Venezuela on the 19th, hit two home runs in the bottom of the 2nd and 6th innings, showing off his formidable sense of hitting. In the bottom of the 8th inning, Cedric Mullins (Baltimore Orioles), who was replaced as the main runner that day, hit a wedge with a solo shot.The U.S. cherished its pitchers a lot. There were only three pitchers on the mound that day. Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (64 pitches) and second pitcher Miles Mycholas (77 pitches, St. Louis) were responsible for 4 innings (one run each), and Aaron Loop (LA Angels) blocked the top of the ninth without a run. In the final, all pitchers except for Wainwright and Michaels, who pitched 50 or more pitches that day, are unavoidable to take a 4-day break.
