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Aaron Judge praised the World Baseball Classic environment after Team USA narrowly beat the Dominican Republic, 2-1, at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Sunday.
Judge made an incredible defensive play when he threw out Fernando Tatis Jr. trying to reach third base. The New York Yankees star also hit a home run, or probably a double, hit by center fielder Julio Rodriguez.
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American right fielder Aaron Judge (99) runs after hitting a first-inning double against Canada in a quarterfinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Daikin Park on March 13, 2026. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
The atmosphere was electric, and Judge told reporters after the game that it was better than the World Series.
“It was bigger and better than the World Series,” he said. “The passion that these fans have, representing their country, representing some of their favorite players, there’s nothing like it.”
“We get chills when we’re on the line, hearing them announce all the names,” he added. “It was like an All-Star team they had there.”
THIRD CONTROVERSIAL STRIKE GIVES TEAM USA VICTORY AT WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC, SOCIAL MEDIA BURSTS
United States Aaron Judge reacts after being thrown out during the eighth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
More than 36,000 people filled the Miami Marlins stadium to watch the semifinal of the World Baseball Classic. The crowd got hot when Junior Caminero hit Paul Skenes and roared repeatedly when Team USA’s Gunnar Henderson tied the match and Roman Anthony hit the go-ahead goal.
Anthony recalled the 2023 World Baseball Classic final, revealing he bought a ticket to watch the United States, but they fell to Japan.
“Coming here to the WBC, you dream of representing this country and being here next time,” Anthony said.
Aaron Judge of the United States gestures to the team after hitting a single in the first inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the Dominican Republic, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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The United States will now wait for the winner of the Venezuela-Italy match to see who they will face in the final.
