Spanish
Houston. The United States National Team secured its ticket to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic after defeating 5-3 the Canadian National Team in the quarterfinal match played before more than 38 thousand fans at Daikin Park.
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With this result, the American team will now face the Dominican Republic in an expected semi-final match scheduled to be held in Miami.
Right-handed pitcher Logan Webb was the star from the mound, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings, in which he allowed only four hits, conceded one walk, and struck out five batters to set the pace of the game.
The United States took the lead from the first inning. After a walk to Bobby Witt Jr. and a double by Aaron Judge, a ground ball by Kyle Schwarber allowed Witt to score the first run of the game.
The advantage increased in the third inning when Alex Bregman hit a ball that ended in a defensive error and allowed two runners to cross the plate to put the score at 3-0.
The American team extended the lead in the sixth inning thanks to a simple RBI single by Brice Turang and another by Pete Crow-Armstrong, bringing the scoreboard to 5-0.
Canada reacted in that same inning with a single by producer Tyler Black and subsequently a home run by Bo Naylor that brought the score closer to 5-3.
However, the American bullpen managed to hold the lead. Reliever David Bednar stopped a key threat in the seventh inning, while Garrett Whitlock pitched a perfect eighth inning and closer Mason Miller sealed the victory in the ninth.
With the victory, the United States keeps its dream alive in the tournament and now prepares to face the powerful Dominican offense in an electrifying semi-final clash on the road to the World Classic title.
