The Pirates’ Paul Skenes threw four-and-two-thirds innings and gave up a solo home run, and Team USA edged the Dominican Republic, 2-1, in the World Baseball Classic. All of the game’s runs came on solo homers, a blast by the DR’s Junior Caminero in the second inning answered by Gunnar Henderson’s shot leading off the fourth, followed one out later by Roman Anthony’s home run for the winning margin.
It was a game that had “Pittsburgh” written all over it. Skenes started for Team USA…Anthony’s game-winner came off Pirates reliever Gregory Soto…Pittsburgh native David Bednar worked out of a jam in the seventh without allowing a run…and another Pittsburgher, Mason Miller, worked a scoreless ninth for the save, striking out Geraldo Perdomo on a disputed out-of-the-zone fastball to end the game.
Team USA will play for the WBC championship tomorrow night against the winner of tonight’s game between Venezuela and Italy.
Skenes says the WBC has been a tremendous experience, the kind of baseball he wants to see in Pittsburgh this season.
PIRATES
The Pirates were beaten by Tampa Bay, 6-1 yesterday, with the Bucs’ only run coming on Konnor Griffin’s fourth home run of spring training, in the ninth inning.
The Pirates play the Twins this afternoon in Fort Myers, with non-roster invitee Noah Ryan scheduled to start. First pitch is at one o’clock.
Comments