Trea Turner Leads U.S. Past Cuba and Into World Baseball Classic Final

Despite help from players in M.L.B. organizations — a recent change in the Cuban Federation Baseball’s policy — the Cuban team was still no match for the United States’ squad. Because so many players had defected to play in M.L.B. in the United States, the once-mighty Cuban team had faded on the international baseball stage. An injection of talent for this W.B.C. boosted Cuba to the semifinals.

But a United States lineup of All-Stars and Most Valuable Player Award winners scored runs against all seven Cuban pitchers who appeared in Sunday’s game. Cuba jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, an advantage that barely lasted because Goldschmidt clobbered a two-run home run in the bottom half of the frame.

“After the home run, the first thing he does,” Wainwright said of Goldschmidt, “he goes right to me and he says, ‘We got you.’”

Added Goldschmidt, the 2022 National League M.V.P.: “That was one of my favorite home runs I’ve ever hit in my entire life.”

Their Cardinals teammate Miles Mikolas followed with four strong innings, allowing the United States lineup to keep scoring. Turner, the ninth and last hitter in the lineup, smashed a solo shot in the second inning and added a three-run blast in the sixth, capping his second straight game with four runs batted in. And in two days, Turner said he hoped for more.

“I like playing baseball, competing and coming out on top,” he said. “We’re playing good baseball right now, so one more to go and hopefully those stats keep coming and that’s a good thing for Team U.S.A.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/20/sports/baseball/united-states-cuba-wbc.html