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USA vs. Dominican Republic live score, updates, highlights from 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals

USA vs. Dominican Republic live score, updates, highlights from 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals

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Neither team can win the World Baseball Classic on Sunday night, but the semifinal matchup between the United States and Dominican Republic should have the feel of a championship game.

As the tournament moves to Miami, loyal Dominican fans are expected to pack LoanDepot Park to see their loaded lineup face American ace Paul Skenes. After a disappointing showing at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the Dominican Republic has come back with a vengeance and looks like it has the talent to win their first title since 2013.

STREAM: Watch USA vs. Dominican Republic live with Fubo (free trial)

Team USA doesn’t want to see them get the chance. While the American roster has underperformed at times in the tournament, even suffering a loss to Italy in pool play, Skenes looked every bit like his dominant self in his first start and could be the weapon the United States needs to quiet down a Dominican lineup brimming with All-Star talent.

Pete Crow-Armstrong said after the USA’s quarterfinal win that he anticipates Sunday’s matchup having the feel of a road game. After bouts of sluggish play early in the World Baseball Classic, that energy could be just what the U.S. needs to fully break out.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Sunday’s World Baseball Classic semifinal game between the USA and Dominican Republic. Follow along below as the U.S. tries to reach the championship game.

USA vs. Dominican Republic baseball score

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F
USA 0 0 0 2 0 – – – – –
D.R. 0 1 0 0 0 – – – – –

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC HQ: Live scores | Updated standings | Full TV schedule

USA vs. Dominican Republic live updates, highlights from 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals

All times ET.

Bottom of the 5th inning

9:52 p.m. — Skenes is out there to open the inning. He got Perdomo to fly out to left for the first out. Tatis hit a slow grounder to third, and even though Henderson bare-handed it, the batter beat the throw to first for a single. Marte lined a ball to center field, but Tatis held up at second, likely anxious about testing another arm in the Team USA outfield. Skenes’ night is done. 

Soto grounded a ball up the middle. Witt grabbed it, stepped on second and fired to first for the inning ending double play. 

Top of the 5th inning

9:43 p.m. — With the first pitch in the fifth inning, Harper flew out to left field. Judge launched a ball to center field, and the ball was caught by Rodriguez, who looked to rob a home run, or at least a ball off the wall. 

Schwarber knocked a two-out single past a diving Marte at second. Mejia’s day is done. Huascar Brazoban came on in relief with two away in the inning. Henderson grounded out to first to end the inning. 

Bottom of the 4th inning

9:34 p.m. — Soto lines a ball to right field, but it was caught by the diving Judge. Guerrero Jr. doubled to left field. Machado smoked a ball to shortstop and Witt was able to knock it down and he kept Guerrero from advancing, but Machado still made it to first. 

Skenes got Caminero to ground out to shortstop, but Turang bobbled the turn for a potential double play. Guerrero moved up to third and Caminero made it to first on the fielder’s choice.

Skenes had Rodriguez in a two-strike count. The Pittsburgh ace tried to go up and in, but went too far in and hit Rodriguez in the right wrist to load the bases. Skenes got out of it as Wells flew out to right field. 

Top of the 4th inning

USA 2, Dominican Republic 1

9:21 p.m. — Henderson worked a good at-bat, and it ended with his hitting his second home run of the tournament, into the upper deck in right field. 

Smith followed it up with a line drive to left center, but Soto was able to track it down for the first out of the inning. Severino’s night is done. The southpaw Gregory Soto comes on for the Dominican Republic to face the lefty Anthony. The Boston Red Sox‘s top prospect sends a ball over the right-center fence, and Team USA has a lead. 

Turang worked a full count, but struck out for the second out of the inning. Crow-Armstrong hit a ground ball back to Soto on the mound, and it kicked off his glove. The speedy centerfielder reached first on the error, and Soto’s night is already done. 

Juan Mejia came in for the Dominican Republic and struck out Witt to end the inning. 

Bottom of the 3rd inning

9:01 p.m. — Skenes started the third by striking out Austin Wells. With a 1-2 count, Skenes had a breaking ball cut too far inside, and Geraldo Perdomo got hit on the back foot. 

Tatis hit a ground ball to third, but Team USA was only able to get Perdomo at second as Tatis beat out the throw to first. Ketel Marte hit a single to right field and tested Judge’s arm. The Team USA captain threw an absolute laser to third base, and the throw beat Tatis to end the inning. 

Top of the 3rd inning

8:51 p.m. — Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out to begin the inning, and Severino punched out four hitters in his first time through the lineup. Witt then lined a single to left field. Harper then doubled down the right field line, moving Witt to second with one out and bringing up Judge. 

The Team USA captain struck out for the second out of the frame. Kyle Schwarber struck out looking to end the inning, and Team USA squandered what could be one of its few chances with the way Severino is pitching. 

Bottom of the 2nd inning

Dominican Republic 1, USA 0

8:35 p.m. — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to third base to begin the bottom half of the second inning. Skenes then struck out Manny Machado, looking for the second out. 

Skenes then hung a slider up and away, and Junior Caminero launched it into the left field stands for the first run of the game. 

Julio Rodriguez ended the inning by grounding out to second.  

Top of the 2nd inning

8:30 p.m. — Will Smith leads off the inning with a single down the right field line. Roman Anthony went down looking as Severino notched his third strikeout of the game. Turang hit a ground ball to second and the Dominican Republic turned a big 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. 

Bottom of the 1st inning

8:23 p.m. — On the third pitch of the bottom half of the inning, Skenes gets Fernando Tatis Jr. to pop out to left field. Ketel Marte then popped out to shallow right field for the second out. 

Soto hit a scoring groundball that looked destined for the outfield, but second baseman Brice Turang made an impressive diving play to rob a hit and get the third out to end the inning. 

Top of the 1st inning

8:17 p.m. — Severino starts the game by striking out Bobby Witt Jr. on five pitches. He followed it up with a second, five-pitch strikeout, this time fanning Bryce Harper. Judge was facing two strikes, and Severino was hoping to strike out the side, but he ripped a single to left field that barely made it over the shortstop’s head. 

Severino then threw a sweeper that got away from him, and he hit Kyle Schwarber. Gunnar Henderson grounded out to second for the final out of the opening frame. 

Pre-game 

8:09 p.m. — It is time to get this one started, the USA will bat first. 

7:55 p.m. — The USA will be starting the best pitcher on its roster. Skenes was named the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and won the NL Cy Young Award in 2025, marking arguably the best two-season start for a pitcher in MLB history. One of the key factors in this game will be how efficient Skenes can be and how many innings Team USA can get out of him. 

7:45 p.m. — The Dominican Republic has a lineup that should be just as competitive as the U.S.’ and also resembles an All-Star Game lineup. Here is how the DR is lining up behind starter Luis Severino. 

7:38 p.m. — Here is how Team USA will lineup behind starter Paul Skenes. 

MORE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2026:

Where to watch USA vs. Dominican Republic in WBC

USA vs. Dominican Republic start time

  • Date: Sunday, March 15
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET

The USA’s semifinal game against the Dominican Republic is set to start at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. The winner will advance to the championship game.

The game will be played at LoanDepot Park in Miami, which hosts the Marlins during the MLB season. This will be Team USA’s first game of this World Baseball Classic away from Houston.

MORE: Complete look at Team USA’s 2026 WBC roster

What channel is USA vs. Dominican Republic on?

  • TV channel: FS1
  • Live stream: Fubo

Sunday’s semifinal game between the United States and Dominican Republic will air on FS1.

Cord-cutters can stream the game with Fubo, which carries FS1 in its channel lineup and is currently offering a free trial.

World Baseball Classic schedule 2026

The United States is two wins away from winning the World Baseball Classic, but those two wins could be enormously difficult with four talented teams still standing.

Here’s a look at the remaining schedule for the World Baseball Classic:

Sunday, March 15 – Semifinals

Game Time (ET) TV/Stream
USA vs. Dominican Republic 8 p.m. FS1, Fubo

Monday, March 16 – Semifinals

Game Time (ET) TV/Stream
Italy vs. Venezuela 8 p.m. FS1, Fubo

Tuesday, March 17 – Championship

Game Time (ET) TV/Stream
Semifinal winners 8 p.m. Fox, Fubo

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