Final thoughts
Well, that one was decided relatively early but the USA has definitely proven itself in these last two knockout games after struggling somewhat in pool play.
The Guardian will be back to cover the US’s game against either Japan or Mexico in Tuesday’s 2023 WBC finale, but this will do it for today’s live coverage. Thanks to everyone who followed along with today’s live blog, particularly those who contributed.
You can read a full report from tonight’s game here:
Updated
USA is heading to the 2023 WBC Championship Game
USA will be heading to Tuesday’s championship game against the winner of tomorrow’s match between Mexico and Japan!
Cuba 2-14 USA, FINAL
Luis Robert hits a base hit. Oh and Kyle Higashioka is behind the plate for the US here, presumably to give Will Smith some rest after a long night.
Despaigne hits into a double play to end the game immediately after! The USA has beaten Cuba in a decisive fashion!
Updated
Cuba 2-14 USA, top 9th inning
USA pitcher Aaron Loup is getting some work in here, which is normally what one would say during a Spring Training outing but that’s kind of what this is at the moment.
He faces Luis Mateo who grounds out to first on one pitch. I’m cool with that!
Cuba 2-14 USA, bottom 8th inning
Goldschmidt is up again and he grounds out. We are FINALLY heading to the ninth inning.
Yet another home run (Cedric Mullins, Cuba 2-14 USA)
Cuba 2-14 USA, bottom 8th inning
Mullins hits another home run just to put a cherry on the sundae of this win for the US. The extra point is good, as they say in the NFL.
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 8th inning
Betts is up next. Wait, there’s another protester on the field.
There have now been more protesters on the field (3) than Cuba has scored runs (2).
— Stephanie Apstein (@stephapstein) March 20, 2023
Betts flies out for out number two.
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 8th inning
Rodríguez is out there for another inning of work and a chance to play baseball’s most dangerous game: try not to give up a home run to Trea Turner.
He strikes him out on a borderline check-swing call. I don’t blame the umpire at all for that one tbh.
Cuba 2-13 USA, top 8th inning
Santos decides to take the time to work a full count and I am trying not to take it personally. Guys have their numbers to think about. In any case, he grounds out to short to end the inning. To the bottom of the 8th where, barring the most hilarious thing to happen in World Baseball Classic history, the US will be batting for the final time.
Cuba 2-13 USA, top 8th inning
Guibert hits a base hit. The inning continues.
Cuba 2-13 USA, top 8th inning
Drake works a full count but grounds out to Betts at second for the second out.
Cuba 2-13 USA, top 8th inning
Lorenzo Quintana is pitching now for Cuba. Mookie Betts is at second base, McNeil is now in right field. Mikolas is still pitching.
Quintana grounds out for the first out.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the liveblog, btw. Moreso than the game itself.
— Patrick (PK) Keliher 🇺🇦 (@pakelihe) March 20, 2023
Kudos!
I appreciate that! In games like these, you kind of have to make your own fun.
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 7th inning
Yes! He gets Jeff McNeil to ground out on two pitches! I feel like popping a champagne bottle but a) I don’t have one b) don’t drink and c) probably would get in trouble if I did begin drinking on the job.
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 7th inning
José Ramón Rodríguez is pitching for Cuba and he gets Smith to foul out and Alonso to ground out.
Ooh, ooh, maybe now a 1-2-3 inning?
Seventh inning stretch
I’m going to be honest, thought I would be posting this 45 minutes ago or so.
Cuba 2-13 USA, top 7th inning
Ibáñez pops up and that might be as close to a 1-2-3 inning that we get in this one. Certainly can’t imagine the US batters going in order.
Cuba 2-13 USA, top 7th inning
Nope. Arruebarrena singles to right. A person can dream.
Cuba 2-13 USA, top 7th inning
Mikolas gets Robert to ground out on one pitch and Despaigne to ground out on two pitches.
Oh hey are we going to get a 1-2-3 inning finally? This would be a wonderful time for one.
Right now, this game is out of hand and we all just have to hope Moncada is okay. That looked pretty bad before the commercial break. He didn’t get up.
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 6th inning
Schwarber is up next, he falls behind 2-0 but he pops up and Santos just barely makes the catch. He also runs into Moncada, who is down and here comes the training staff.
That’s the end of the inning but it looks like Moncada is hurt and the training staff is out.
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 6th inning
Bobby Witt Jr just came in the game as a pinch-runner at the end of last inning and he’s already at the plate. Ridiculous. He works a full count and in the process, Mullins reaches third on a wild pitch.
Witt fouls off the next pitch. Still 3-2. He fouls off the next pitch. 3-2. He checks the swing on a ball outside and he’s on first base.
I think these US hitters have had absolutely no problem reading these Cuban pitchers. My pregame analysis was laughingly offbase.
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 6th inning
Still just one out in the bottom of the sixth. Cedric Mullins is pinch-running for Trout as the goal for manager Mark DeRosa is to prevent his big guys from getting hurt.
Goldschmidt pops up to second for the final out and it’s hitting to the point where I’m surprised when even of these hitters make an out.
RBI double! (Mike Trout, Cuba 2-13 USA)
Cuba 2-13 USA, bottom 6th inning
Frank Abel Álvarez is in pitching right now for Cuba and Betts hits a single off of him and Trout hits a double and that’s yet another run for team USA.
We have another pitching change for Cuba here. For the record, if the mercy rule were in place it would have been for a 10-run deficit after seven innings so we may indeed have been in mercy rule territory here if this were a pool play game but, again, that’s in not play in knockout rounds so we’re here until the ninth inning no matter what.
If you’re saying “what do you mean WE?” right now, I do not blame you.
3-run home run (Trea Turner, Cuba 2-12 USA)
Cuba 2-12 USA, bottom 6th inning
Trea Turner hits a freaking three-run home run. Are you kidding me? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? His second home run of the game, fourth of the tournament. Maybe the MVP of the tournament if the USA goes all the way.
Cuba 2-9 USA, bottom 6th inning
McNeil walks on four straight pitches. Two on, one out. Meanwhile, the x-rays on Nolan Arenado’s hand came back negative, which is good news.
Also I called him Nelson Arenado earlier in this live blog. Listen I had the “n’s” in the right places, you have to at least give me that.
Cuba 2-9 USA, bottom 6th inning
Smith starts the second off with a double of Leyva. Alonso tries to move him over but hits it to the wrong fielder and it’s just an unproductive groundout to short. I feel like the US won’t need to manufacture any runs in this game, however.
Cuba 2-9 USA, top 6th inning
Moncada is up next, falling behind 0-2. The crowd gets loud and is apparently rooting for a strikeout, despite the lopsided score. Definitely some enthusiasm here from the US supporters, maybe louder than yesterday’s game against Venezuela.
Oh they are getting loud because a fan has gotten on the field, which the cameras never show as to not encourage them. (I am against this policy, for the record, I want to laugh at the doofuses.)
Moncada takes a pitch outside and then flies out to Schwarber. To the bottom of the sixth!
Cuba 2-9 USA, top 6th inning
Santos flies out to Trout in the outfield. Two down in the sixth.
Cuba 2-9 USA, top 6th inning
Mikolas is still pitching for the US and Guibert hits his second infield hit of the game off of him.
My kingdom for a 1-2-3 inning.
Cuba 2-9 USA, top 6th inning
Defensive change: McNeil is now at second base, Witt Jr is at third base.
Drake shouts out to short to start the sixth inning.
Yes, Bobby Witt Jr was the pinch-runner there, so he’s definitely gone. Now we just have to hope he didn’t hurt his hand there like José Altuve was hurt yesterday.
Email from Pam Bishop:
Cuba vs USA in Miami!
Who will the crowd root for?
Well, the results are inconclusive here as the Cuba fans didn’t have much to cheer for after the first inning.
Cuba 2-9 USA, bottom 5th inning
Oh never mind, it’s called a hit-by-pitch? So he’s on first base instead and the bases are loaded. I had completely misread what was going on here, but it sure looked like he fouled it off.
Kyle Schwarber is at the plate with bases loaded and he grounds out. One imagines we won’t see Arenado again in this game, if only for precautionary reasons. To the sixth inning!
Cuba 2-9 USA, bottom 5th inning
Runners on the corner with Arenado at the plate. USA chants break out briefly. Arenado falls behind 0-2. He then fouls the next pitch off of him. He walks it off for a bit but eventually walks off to be replaced by a pinch-hitter who will inherit his 0-2 count.
2-run single! (Cuba 2-9 USA)
Cuba 2-9 USA, bottom 5th inning
And Leyva just needs an out here to get out of the bases loaded jam. Cuba might not win this game, they probably won’t, but if he can pull this off…
He can’t.
Goldschmidt hits a two-run single and, yeah, the US has now scored in every inning and Cuba looks like toast.
Cuba 2-7 USA, bottom 5th inning
Trout takes strike one. Trout fouls one off. 0-2. Leyva throws a pitch that Trout holds off on and it’s a called strike. He strikes Trout out on three pitches! What a moment for the Cuban pitcher!
Cuba 2-7 USA, bottom 5th inning
Good luck, Leyva. Here’s Mookie Betts with the bases loaded and nobody out.
Somehow it works? Betts grounds out sharply and the runners have to hold. Now it’s Mike Trout with one out and runners on every base.
Cuba 2-7 USA, bottom 5th inning
And Cuba wisely goes to the bullpen. It looks like Elián Leyva will be up next as Cuba tries to find an effective reliever against this All-Star US offense.
Cuba 2-7 USA, bottom 5th inning
On a 1-0 count, Bolaños throws his first strike of the inning to Turner but then throws two more outside. 3-1. Turner fouls off the next one. Full count.
On the next pitch, Turner gets a base hit and the bases are loaded and nobody is out. One more big hit here and this one might be officially over.
Updated
Cuba 2-7 USA, bottom 5th inning
Bolaños, who has an 0-4 record in the majors, walks pinch-hitter Jeff McNeil on four pitches after hitting Alonso.
This is not ideal. Two on, nobody out, no strikes thrown.
Updated
Cuba 2-7 USA, bottom 5th inning
Pete Alonso gets hit with a pitch to start the bottom of the 5th and our quest for a 1-2-3 inning continues.
Cuba 2-7 USA, top 5th inning
Martínez is up with runners on first and second and two out and strikes out.
And we are finally halfway through regulation. This one has not been quite as speedy as the previous two WBC games.
RBI single (Andy Ibáñez, Cuba 2-7 USA)
Cuba 2-7 USA, top 5th inning
Andy Ibáñez hits a base hit to score Moncada and finally Cuba has its second run of the game.
Updated
Cuba 1-7 USA, top 5th inning
Arruebarrena is up again. Two out and a runner still on second and he does get a base hit but too hard to score Moncada. Cuba has runners on the corners now.
Cuba 1-7 USA, top 5th inning
Despaigne strikes out for out number two.
Cuba 1-7 USA, top 5th inning
Luis Robert is up with a runner on second but he strikes out for the first out.
Cuba 1-7 USA, top 5th inning
Miles Mikolas is up now pitching for the US and Moncada promptly hits a double off of him.
Cuba 1-7 USA, bottom 4th inning
Ronald Bolaños is up next to at least try to finally get this elusive final out of the fourth and put this inning out of its misery. Schwarber is on fourth after taking a base-on-balls on that wild pitch.
Bolños throws a strike to Smith. 0-1. The next pitch hits the top of the plate. 0-2. Smith stays alive by fouling the next pitch off. He flies out to put this inning to bed.
Well, Cuba has five more innings here, that’s the good news. They are going to need six runs to even tie this, assuming they can keep the US off the scoreboard from here on out. I don’t like their odds, quite frankly but we’ve seen a few comebacks this tournament.
Run-scoring wild pitch! (Cuba 1-7 USA)
Cuba 1-7 USA, bottom 4th inning
This looked like it could have been a quick inning for Cuba but no dice. This offense is just too relentless. Schwarber is back out there with a runner on third base. On a 1-1 count he nearly gets drilled. 2-1. The next pitch is too low. 3-1. Schwarber fouls the next pitch off. 3-2. The next pitch bounces away and that one is going to score a run.
It’s 7-1 USA and Cuba goes to the bullpen. Yeah, it looks like we’re heading into blowout territory all of a sudden.
Updated
RBI triple! (Nolan Arenado, Cuba 1-6 USA)
Cuba 1-6 USA, bottom 4th inning
Arenado takes ball one.
Arenado takes a wild swing. Strike one.
Arenado takes ball two.
Arenado fouls the next pitch off. Strike two.
Arenado hits a ball that rolls into the corner for a run-scoring triple!
Updated
Cuba 1-5 USA, bottom 4th inning
Viera’s been doing well against extremely dangerous hitters, now to see if he can put away Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt looks at strike one. 0-1. The next pitch is set up away and it ends up extremely away, bounding away from the catcher. (Since there’s nobody on base it’s a “no harm, no foul “situation.) The next pitch is also a ball. 2-1. Goldschmidt really misses on the next pitch. 2-2. The next pitch? Another ball that nearly gets away from the catcher. 3-2. The next is outside, Goldschmidt checks his swing. That’s ball four and he takes his base.
Cuba 1-5 USA, bottom 4th inning
Mike Trout strikes out. Two down in the inning.
Cuba 1-5 USA, bottom 4th inning
Wainwright had a rough start thanks to a few iffy first-inning throws but settled down and gave the USA four quality innings while giving up just one run. He’s now getting the ceremonial hugs in the dugout, meaning his day is probably over.
Viera is up facing Betts, who works a full count. He fouls off the next pitch. Still 3-2. Then he grounds out to short for the first out.
Cuba 1-5 USA, top 4th inning
Santos is up, seeing if he can get some two-out offense going here. On 1-1, he gets rung up on a checked swing call that feels borderline. He then golfs a flyball into the outfield that Mike Trout easily handles. To the bottom of the fourth!
Cuba 1-5 USA, top 4th inning
Guibert is up next and falls into a 0-2 hole. He checks his swing on the next pitch. 1-2. Then he hits a solid base hit, so we’re not going to get a 1-2-3 inning here.
Cuba 1-5 USA, top 4th inning
Drake grounds out to Turner at short. That’s a quick first two outs here. Man, Cuba’s really going to regret not being able to cash in on Wainwright’s wayward throws in the first, I feel.
Cuba 1-5 USA, top 4th inning
Ariel Martínez flies out immediately for the first out of the fourth.
Email from Joel Eley:
Hi again from Jakarta, looking like a bit of a procession after yesterday’s pyrotechnics.Does the mercy rule apply in the knockouts? With Turner up next in his current form this could get ugly for Cuba.
It didn’t get ugly but Cuba’s still very much in a hole here. It should be noted that the mercy rule only applied to pool play, so this game is going to last at least nine innings no matter the score.
As a baseball fan, I hate the idea of games with mercy rules. As a person who is duty-bound to cover this entire game, I won’t lie I was kind of disappointed to learn this.
Cuba 1-5 USA, bottom 3rd inning
Turner grounds out to finally end the inning, but Team USA tacks on two to increase their lead. Cuba’s going to have to start scoring and scoring soon to make this a game.
Sacrifice fly! (Tim Anderson, Cuba 1-5 USA)
Cuba 1-5 USA, bottom 3rd inning
Carlos Viera is up as the next Cuban pitcher. Anderson is up with runners on every base and just one out, he can add to the US lead without the benefit of a base hit.
Although I suppose he’d prefer a base hit.
Anderson fouls off a pitch and then takes a ball. 1-1. He fouls off the next pitch. 1-2. The next pitch is a ball. Count’s even at 2-2. Anderson indeed hits a long flyball out that scores an additional run.
Cuba 1-4 USA, bottom 3rd inning
The bases are still loaded with just one out and that will do it for Romero who picked a bad time for a bad inning.
RBI single! (Pete Alonso, Cuba 1-4 USA)
Cuba 1-4 USA, bottom 3rd inning
Alonso is up with a chance to do major damage to this Cuban lineup. He hits a line drive base hit that is scorched so hard for more than one run to score! He almost hit it too well!
Cuba 1-3 USA, bottom 3rd inning
Will Smith is up and (writes and immediately deletes incredibly corny reference to 1990s pop-rap).
Will Smith is up and he gets ahead of the count 2-1. Romero comes back with a called strike. 2-2.
Romero throws a curveball that doesn’t graze the top of the zone according to the umpire. Then Smith fouls off a curve. The next pitch is a ball and the USA has loaded the bases with just one out. This is a dangerous spot for Cuba. This could be the game.
Cuba 1-3 USA, bottom 3rd inning
Schwarber is back up to the plate. Romero falls behind 2-0. No, wait, make that 3-0. That pitch was barely catchable. This is not where you want Schwarber and Romero ends up just hitting him which, honestly, not the worst-case scenario there!
Well Kyle probably didn’t appreciate it, but you know what I mean. Two on, one out.
Cuba 1-3 USA, bottom 3rd inning
With one down, Arenado is up to the plate. He takes a ball and fouls off a pitch into the stands. 1-1. He hits a solid single into the outfield.
I’m already learning to drown out Smoltz’s voice, he’s like a babbling brook to me now. It’s almost relaxing.
Cuba 1-3 USA, bottom 3rd inning
Cuba goes to the bullpen and brings out Miguel Romero, currently in the Oakland Athletics organization. He faces Goldschmidt. you know the reigning National League MVP who hit a monster home run the last time he was open. No biggie.
Goldschmidt works a full count, then fouls off the next pitch. Still 3-2. And then he fouls off the next. Still 3-2. This is a nice at-bat. I’m guessing he works a walk here.
Nope, he strikes out. This (and my addictive personality) is why I don’t bet on sports.
Cuba 1-3 USA, top 3rd inning
Ibáñez is up next and he gets ahead of Wainwright 3-1 but he flies out to Trout for out number three.
Cuba 1-3 USA, top 3rd inning
Arruebarrena is up next and Wainwright falls behind 2-0 before hitting a flyball to the outfield. Two down.
Cuba 1-3 USA, top 3rd inning
Wainwright is just having a bad fielding day! He airmails a throw to first and Despaigne is safe at first after what should be a groundball out.
Cuba 1-3 USA, top 3rd inning
Luis Robert is up and then he’s down, flying out to right before I can even start typing.
Cuba 1-3 USA, bottom 2nd
Trout is up with a runner at first and I’m starting to feel sheepish about my prediction that this wouldn’t be a high-scoring game. I feel like this could get out of hand early now.
Trout swings and misses for a strike and then nearly hits one out. The park contains it and it’s just out number three. To the third inning!
Cuba 1-3 USA, bottom 2nd
Betts continues his hot hitting by scorching a single into the outfield. He’s 2-for-2 and the line keeps moving for the United States.
Solo home run! (Trea Turner, Cuba 1-3 USA)
Cuba 1-3 USA, bottom 2nd
Trea Turner, yesterday’s hero, is up next. He does it yet again, hitting a massive solo home run to pad the US lead!
Cuba 1-2 USA, bottom 2nd
Tim Anderson is up next and he takes a ball before taking a wild swing at the next pitch. 1-1. The next pitch is way way outside. 2-1. He fouls the next off. 2-2. The next pitch should be a strike, it feels, but it’s called a ball and that makes it a full count.
Anderson ends the at-bat by weakly grounding out. Two away.
Cuba 1-2 USA, bottom 2nd
Elías is out for a second inning of work. Pete Alonso is up to star and after working a 2-2 count he flies out for the first out.
Cuba 1-2 USA, top 2nd inning
Moncada takes a strike looking. 0-1. The next pitch is just off the corner. 1-1. He takes a ball outside. 2-1. He fouls one off. 2-2. He then grounds out to Tim Anderson for the final out of the inning and we head to the bottom of the second.
Cuba 1-2 USA, top 2nd inning
Santos grounds out for the second out, but Drake gets to second base on the play. So a runner in scoring position for Moncada.
Cuba 1-2 USA, top 2nd inning
Guibert is up next and he falls behind 0-2 and strikes out. John Smoltz is talking about how “nobody knows how to bunt anymore” and he sounds exactly like that grandfather that you don't like talking to during holiday gatherings.
Cuba 1-2 USA, top 2nd inning
Yadir Drake hits one of those foul home runs for strike one to start the 2nd inning. Wainwright’s next pitch is outside for a ball. 1-1. The next pitch hits the corner. 1-2. The next pitch, that’s the first hit that leaves the infield. Cuba has another leadoff runner.
Cuba 1-2 USA, bottom 1st inning
Smith is up with a runner on first and two out. Elías again falls behind 2-0 but Smith takes a healthy cut at the third pitch and comes up empty. 2-1. The next pitch is in the dirt. 3-1. That’s a great hitter’s count but Smith just taps one to the infield for an out.
Still Paul Goldschmidt has made it a 2-1 USA early. Yeah, already it feels like Cuba should have gotten more out of the top of the first.
Cuba 1-2 USA, bottom 1st inning
Kyle Schwarber is up next with two outs. He gets ahead of the count 3-0 and then takes a walk and here comes Will Smith who has heard all of your “slap” related jokes thank you very much.
Cuba 1-2 USA, bottom 1st inning
Nolan Arenado is up next and he strikes out on four pitches.
2-run home run! (Paul Goldschmidt, Cuba 1-2 USA)
Cuba 1-2 USA, bottom 1st inning
And just like that, USA takes a lead with Paul Goldschmidt crushing a ball right out of the park for a home run. The killer 1-2-3 of this USA lineup already pays dividends.
Cuba 1-0 USA, bottom 1st inning
Mike Trout, who is strangely batting in the two-hole, is up next. Elías gets ahead of Trout 1-2. It looks like Trout is going to get at least a hit, but Yoeklis Guibert makes a smooth catch in right field for the first out of the inning.
Cuba 1-0 USA, bottom 1st inning
Roenis Elías, who has bounced around the majors the last few years, is here pitching against the United States and Mookie Betts greats him with a leadoff double.
Cuba 1-0 USA, top 1st inning
Ariel Martínez grounds out to shortstop and somehow Wainwright escapes the jam having given up just a single run. That’s huge for them and that might end up being a huge early squander for Cuba.
Cuba 1-0 USA, top 1st inning
Andy Ibáñez pops up to second and now the US is an out away from getting out of this having just given up a single run.
Cuba 1-0 USA, top 1st inning
Erisbel Arruebarrena is up next. Wainwright falls behind again, 2-0. Finally he gets a strike with a curve that grazes the heart of the plate. 2-1. Arruebarrena swings and misses at the next pitch. 2-2.
And he hits a ground ball to third base, the throw to home plate is on time and that’s the first out of the inning. Still bases loaded, but there’s one out.
Run on a bases-loaded walk! (Alfredo Despaigne, Cuba 1-0 USA)
Cuba 1-0 USA, top 1st inning
Now, this sets up Cuba’s home run threat Alfredo Despaigne. This is exactly how they would draw up an ideal first inning. Wainwright falls behind 2-0. Despaigne takes a strike down the middle, that looked like a good pitch to hit too.
Despaigne has his seven home runs in the WBC, impressive considering how few games Cuba has played. Despaigne fouls the next pitch off. 2-2. Wainwright’s next pitch is outside. 3-2. Another ball will walk in a run.
Wainwright tries to get him out with his curve, but it’s just off the plate. He walks in a run!
Updated
Cuba 0-0 USA, top 1st inning
This is sort of a traditional Cuban style of baseball: contact and speed. Luis Robert does the very same thing and this seems to be driving Wainwright batty (no pun intended), he’s getting the weak contact he wants but he can’t convert them to outs. The bases are loaded and there is nobody out.
Updated
Cuba 0-0 USA, top 1st inning
Yoán Moncada is up next. He gets ahead of the count 2-1. Moncada swings and misses at the next pitch. 2-2. He then hits a tapper that bounces and just stays fair. Moncada outruns it and that’s another infield hit off of Wainwright.
Updated
First pitch
Cuba 0-0 USA, top 1st inning
Adam Wainwright’s first pitch is ball one to Roel Santos. Santos smacks his second pitch for what’s ruled an infield hit. Cuba has a leadoff base runner.
Updated
A lot of the Cuban population of the Miami area comes from families who escaped from Fidel Castro’s regime and harbor negative thoughts about the current government, so the atmosphere might be fraught.
Tonight:
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) March 19, 2023
USA vs Cuba, in Little Havana. The Cuban national team will play in Miami for the first time ever. Protests have been organized for the game around the stadium. Winner advances to the WBC Final. It’s going to be another historic night, that’s for sure. pic.twitter.com/P0t30d1CZq
I’m trying to figure out, given the highly particular politics of Miami whether this will sound like a home game for Cuba or not. I guess we will see.
Quick review: this special could have used a lot more Ohtani and a lot less of Justin Verlander’s brother. Still better than a half-hour of listening to John Smoltz give his pregame thoughts.
And now we have the start of Cuba-USA! Actual baseball coming soon!
Hey congrats to Fox Sports 1 for having a decent lead-in programming for an international baseball competition: an interview special with Shohei Ohtani. Much more fitting than the race car special that was on before Friday’s game.
Predictions
Okay, yesterday I guessed that the USA would manage a quasi-upset win over Venezuela and, while it was a bit touch-and-go for a spell, it ended up playing out. I think I’ll let it ride and guess that they’ll manage to win again despite having to play back-to-back games.
I’m a little less sure, simply because it’s a bit trickier for them to prepare for a team with so many lesser-known quantities on it, even if communication has opened up between the two countries since the last time the WBC was played.
I don’t expect an offensive explosion like yesterday’s 9-7 back-and-forth affair. Maybe it will be something like a 4-3 US victory?
Have a different opinion? Or, better yet, want to agree with me and tell me what a wise soothsayer I am? Either way, you can send your predictions our way either via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (to @HunterFelt) and we’ll post them here throughout the live blog’s early stages.
Hey, some potentially significant news if Cuba needs a pinch-hitter in a key opportunity during today’s game. Céspedes has been out of the majors for a few years, but the 37-year-old has veteran experience against MLB-caliber pitching and probably some pop still left in his bat.
Former big leaguer Yoenis Cespedes, who had left Team Cuba in Tokyo for "personal reasons, " is back with the team. He took BP here but is not in starting lineup.
— Gordon Edes (@GordonEdes) March 19, 2023
Cuba starting lineup
1. Roel Santos, LF
2. Yoán Moncada, 3B
3. Luis Robert, CF
4. Alfredo Despaigne, DH
5. Erisbel Arruebarruena, SS
6. Andy Ibañez, 2B
7. Ariel Martínez, C
8. Yadir Drake, 1B
9. Yoelkis Guibert, RF
Starting pitcher: Roenis Elías
USA starting lineup
1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Mike Trout, CF
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Nolan Areando, 3B
5. Kyle Schwarber, LF
6. Will Smith, C
7. Pete Alonso, DH
8. Tim Anderson, 2B
9. Trea Turner, SS
Starting pitcher: Adam Wainwright
Preamble
I won’t lie, it didn’t look like the US would it make it this far. It appeared that Venezuela was well on its way to making it to the semi-finals matchup against Cuba after USA pitcher Daniel Bard’s troubling control problems caused them to blow a 5-2 lead midway through the game. However, a Trea Turner grand slam in the 8th inning ensured that Bard (or manager Mark DeRosa, who left his reliever in too long) would not be the goat yesterday.
So now they are facing the Cuba team, which for the first time in WBC history now contains current and former MLB players such as Luis Robert and Yoán Moncada from the Chicago White Sox, it’s an intriguing mix of both known and unknown entities, something that could give this USA team trouble. The two teams have never met before in the World Baseball Classic and in fact this might be a downright historical sports occasion.
Even the mound tarp is ready for The @WBCBaseball semis @loanDepotpark. Team USA vs Team Cuba. Believed to be Cuba’s first game in Miami since at least 1959. @JimBowdenGM & I have the call 7pET @MLBNetworkRadio pic.twitter.com/sGJx22LjHy
— Mike Ferrin (@Mike_Ferrin) March 19, 2023
On the mound, the US will have Adam Wainwright starting for them, while Cuba will be starting lefty Roenis Elías. The winner of today’s semi-final will go on to the championship game to face the winner of tomorrow’s game between Japan and Mexico.
Per usual, we would love to hear from you during this game, you can send your thoughts and comments and we’ll use them throughout this liveblog. You can send them to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet them to @HunterFelt.
It’s Cuba vs USA in the first of two WBC semi-finals at Miami’s LoanDepot Park. The game broadcast begins on Fox Sports 1 at 7:00 pm EST, but we’ll be back before then with starting lineups, predictions and other such things leading up to start time.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how Saturday’s quarter-final unfolded:
Trea Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning that lifted the United States over Venezuela 9-7 Saturday night and into the World Baseball Classic semi-finals.
Trailing 7-5, the United States loaded the bases in the eighth on a walk, single and hit by pitch against losing pitcher Jose Quijada. Silvino Bracho relieved and then Turner, the ninth batter in the US lineup, sent his 0-2 changeup 407 feet to deep left field for the third grand slam in Team USA history.
David Bednar, the fifth US pitcher, got the win. Ryan Pressly got three outs for the save.
Luis Arraez, playing the ballpark that he’ll soon call home with the Miami Marlins, hit two home runs for Venezuela.
The US team boasts a roster of big names that many picked to repeat as WBC champions.
All nine batters in Team USA’s lineup are all-stars, including Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, St Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
