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March 15th Results Semifinal 1: United States 2-1 Dominican Republic Highlights: Updated Bracket:

Brilliant catch by Julio Rodriguez!

DR leaves the bases loaded in the 4th inning

Junior Caminero bomb!!! 1-0 for DR Skenes was dominating the DR before that homerun.

Here we go! Semifinal 1 about to get underway. Paul Skenes vs. the juggernaut Dominican lineup Can't wait!

vs. Starting Lineups: United States 1. Bobby Witt Jr. (Shortstop) 2. Bryce Harper (1st Base) 3. Aaron Judge (Right Field) 4. Kyle Schwarber (Designated Hitter) 5. Gunnar Henderson (3rd Base) 6. Will Smith (Catcher) 7. Roman Anthony (Left Field) 8. Brice Turang (2nd Base) 9. Pete Crow-Armstrong (Center Field) Starting Pitcher: Paul Skenes Dominican Republic 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (Right Field) 2. Ketel Marte (2nd Base) 3. Juan Soto (Left Field) 4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1st Base) 5. Manny Machado (3rd Base) 6. Junior Caminero (Designated Hitter) 7. Julio Rodriguez (Center Field) 8. Austin Wells (Catcher) 9. Geraldo Perdomo (Shortstop) Starting Pitcher: Luis Severino

Semifinals March 15th 20:00 ET/2:00 CET: United States vs. Dominican Republic March 16th 20:00 ET/2:00 CET: Venezuela vs. Italy *Images courtesy of Sportsnet

March 14th Results Quarterfinal 3: Puerto Rico 6-8 Italy Highlights: Quarterfinal 2: Venezuela 8-5 Japan Highlights: Updated Bracket:

This is first time that Samurai Japan has failed to reach the semifinals at the World Baseball Classic. Not surprising given how shaky they looked during the group stage.

I know my fellow Canadians will be upset over this result. I too am also sad to see Canada not get a quota. But at the same time, super happy for Venezuela. They were given a tough hand being in the same pool as the DR and facing Japan in the quarterfinals but still managed to reach the semifinals. They deserved this quota and if MLB players will be in the Olympics, I'm glad we'll be able to see Acuna and the rest of the Venezuelan superstars at the Olympics. Huge congratulations to them!

Japan strands two runners on base in the 8th inning, down to their final 3 outs to score 3 runs

Wilyer Abreu 3-run home run!!! 7-5 lead for Venezuela over Japan

Maikel Garcia 2-run home run. 5-4 game now

Correct

and his replacment hits a 3-run home run!!! 4 run inning for Japan and they lead 5-2!

Venezuela gets a run in the 2nd to lead 2-1. Yamamoto getting absolutely shelled so far. He couldn't have pitched like this in the World Series!?

Seiya Suzuki hurt and forced to leave the game on that stolen base attempt. Bad news for Japan

Ohtani responds with a homerun of his own to tie the game! What a start!!!

Is Yamamoto going to break the hearts of Canadians again?

Both games today start with a leadoff home run

Time for the biggest quarterfinal matchup yet: vs. , two titans of baseball. Japan trying to keep their perfect semifinal streak alive. Venezuela trying to make the semifinals for the first time since 2009 and earn an Olympic quota.

Bronze medal for Arnaud Gaudet at today's PGS World Cup in Val St. Come! Also 6th place for Kaylie Buck.

Venezuela has given up 12 runs in 108 innings. For Canada to earn the Olympic quota, they need Japan to win and score 3 or more runs. Otherwise Venezuela gets the quota.

Those are runs. Canada and Puerto Rico are both tied. EARNED RUNS are runs that are scored that aren't the result of a fielding error. Canada has allowed 3 fewer earned runs than Puerto Rico. So for example, if a runner gets on base because a shortstop misses a throw to first base and then that runner scores, then that's counted as an UNEARNED run.