USA 6, Dominican Republic 3: Stanton, Jones lift the United States to finals

WHAT A GAME?! The United States brightest stars shined in Petco Park on Saturday in the winner-take-all game against the Dominican Republic. Giancarlo Stanton pulverized a baseball in the fourth inning to put the US team up and Adam Jones stole the show robbing his Orioles teammate Manny Machado of a home run in the seventh inning in 6-3 USA win.

The United States team hasn’t been able to put it all together in the past two World Baseball Classic events but found the mojo with Danny Duffy on the mound.

Duffy gave up two early runs but shut down the Dominicans for his final three innings. It was the bullpen that kept the Americans in the game, Pat Neshek, Tyler Clippard, Sam Dyson and Luke Gregerson combined to pitch 5 innings and allowed just one earned run.

The Marlins outfielders Christian Yelich and Stanton put the American offense on their back. Yelich doubled to tie the game at 2-2 in the third. Stanton crushed a first-pitch fastball from Ervin Santana on to the second deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building.

Jones' home run robbery of Machado kept the momentum fully in the Americans’ favor. Especially after the next batter Robinson Cano hit a home run.

Andrew McCutchen added to the USA lead with a two-run double in the 8th and Gregson closed out the game in the ninth a 1-2-3 inning.