Team USA beats Canada to set up WBC semis showdown vs. D.R.

Team USA advanced to the World Baseball Classic semifinals with a 5-3 win over Canada on Friday night, while the Dominican Republic mercy-ruled Korea 10-0 in seven innings to reach the same stage.

“HOUSTON -- The dream World Baseball Classic matchup between Team USA and the Dominican Republic is on -- and it will determine which country advances to the championship game”

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San Francisco right-hander Logan Webb worked 4⅔ shutout innings and the U.S. withstood a late Canada rally in front of 38,054 at Daikin Park.

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The semifinal showdown is set for Sunday night, featuring the tournament's two most talented teams.

Kyle Schwarber opened the scoring with a first-inning run-scoring groundout.

In the third, Abraham Toro misplayed a bases-loaded ground ball and threw it over first baseman Josh Naylor's head, allowing two more runs.

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In the sixth, Brice Turang and Pete Crow-Armstrong added run-scoring singles to push the lead to 5-0.

Logan Webb exited to a standing ovation after 4⅔ innings, having held Canada to four hits and five strikeouts over 71 pitches.

Brad Keller allowed Canada's first run on Tyler Black's RBI single in the sixth.

Gabe Speier, on his fifth pitch, allowed Bo Naylor's two-run homer to shrink the lead to 5-3.

Bednar faced Naylor with two infield singles and a passed ball, but Naylor popped out to Alex Bregman, O'Neill struck out, and Caissie ended the threat with a splitter.

Whitlock and Mason Miller secured the final six outs.

USA's offense has been mostly stagnant after a strong start, scoring five runs against Canada after putting up 24 runs in its first two WBC games against Brazil and Great Britain.

“HOUSTON -- The dream World Baseball Classic matchup between Team USA and the Dominican Republic is on -- and it will determine which country advances to the championship game”

ESPN

Its five runs against Mexico came in one inning, and its six runs against Italy came after an 8-0 deficit.

The Dominican Republic has found no such issues, scoring 51 runs in five WBC games and hitting .312/.453/.637 as a team.

The DR also tied a record for home runs by a team in the WBC with 14.

Team USA will start Paul Skenes in the semifinal against the Dominican Republic, with an expanded pitch count that allows up to 95 pitches in the semifinals and finals.

The matchup pits a United States squad seeking to capitalize on its bullpen and an explosive Dominican offense that has produced 51 runs in five games.

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The result will determine which country advances to the championship game, as the DR has already shown power with its record-tying 14th home run of the tournament.