2023 World Baseball Classic highlights: USA overwhelms Cuba, 14-2
The 2023 World Baseball Classic continued Sunday with the tournament's first semifinal game, as Team USA had its way with Cuba in Miami, 14-2.
Cuba previously punched its ticket to the semifinals after a 4-3 win over Australia on Wednesday, while the U.S. advanced after a jaw-dropping 9-7 win over Venezuela on Saturday that became an instant classic. The U.S. will now face the winner of Japan-Mexico in the WBC Championship on Tuesday.
The WBC began March 7 and will conclude with Tuesday's championship game (7 p.m. ET, FS1) in Florida.
Games are airing across FOX, FS1, FS2 and are available to stream on the FOX Sports app. View the full schedule here.
These are the top plays!
Cuba takes the early lead
Cuba loaded the bases in the top of the first inning thanks to a trio of defensive mistakes from Team USA.
Tim Anderson was unable to field a ground ball in the hole on the right side of the infield, which was followed by Adam Wainwright getting buckled on a ground ball near the first base line, and then Wainwright having a soft ground ball go under his glove.
Alfredo Despaigne drew a walk out of a full count, putting Cuba on the board. Wainwright, however, evaded further damage, inducing three infield outs to escape the inning.
USA responds
Mookie Betts doubled to lead off the bottom of the first. Two batters later, Paul Goldschmidt gave Team USA the lead, turning on a pitch from Roenis Elias for a 2-run home run.
Paul Goldschmidt belts a DEEP two-run homer to help Team USA grab a 2-1 lead over Cuba
Later!
The hero of Saturday for Team USA, Trea Turner, struck again in the bottom of the second, demolishing a solo home run to left field to give it a 3-1 lead.
Trea Turner crushes a home run and gives Team USA a 3-1 lead over Cuba
Stretching the lead out
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the third, Pete Alonso roped an RBI single to left.
The next batter, Anderson, hit a sacrifice fly to center. Team USA led 5-1.
Continuing to build the lead
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Nolan Arenado smacked a base hit to right field, which was deep enough for Goldschmidt to score from first base and Arenado to leg out a triple.
The next batter, Kyle Schwarber, drew a walk, with ball four getting away from the plate and scoring Arenado from third. Team USA took a 7-1 lead.
Team USA scores two runs in the fourth behind an RBI-triple by Nolan Arenado and a wild pitch
Cuba gets one back
Andy Ibanez punched out a ground ball between Anderson and Turner in the top of the fifth, driving in Cuba's second run.
Padding the lead
With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, Goldschmidt hit a 2-RBI single to right, giving Team USA a seven-run lead.
Paul Goldschmidt hits a two-run single, extending Team USA's lead over Cuba to 9-2
Nolan Arenado injured
Arenado was hit on his right hand and removed from the game in the bottom of the fifth. Bobby Witt Jr. took Arenado's place at third base.
FOX Sports MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal reported that X-Rays on Arenado's right hand came back negative.
Just walk him already
It has been the 24 hours of Trea. Team USA's shortstop launched his second homer of the game in the bottom of the sixth. This one was a 3-run long ball, which gave the U.S. a 12-2 lead.
Trea Turner crushes a three-run home run to give Team USA a 12-2 lead over Cuba
ANOTHER run
With a runner on first, Trout hit an RBI double to right, giving Team USA an 11-run lead.
One more for good measure
The U.S. has been raking all night, and Cedric Mullins joined the party in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer to right.
Cedric Mullins crushes a solo home run to give Team USA a 14-2 lead over Cuba
The final out
Read more:
- Trea Turner, USA go deep again, knock out Cuba to advance to WBC final
- World Baseball Classic 2023 odds: How to bet Cuba-United States, expert pick
- World Baseball Classic 2023 odds: How to bet Japan-Mexico, expert pick
- Patrick Mahomes, Justin Turner, others react to Trea Turner's WBC grand slam
- World Baseball Classic highlights: USA tops Venezuela in thriller
- Trea Turner grand slam leads USA over Venezuela into WBC semifinal
- How to watch the 2023 World Baseball Classic: Finals, TV, schedule, dates
