After a tumultuous World Baseball Classic for Team USA, the stars and stripes managed to reach the final against Venezuela despite only narrowly advancing to the knockout round after a shocking defeat to Italy in the group stage.
Unfortunately, the United States fell 3-2 in the game, despite Bryce Harper smashing a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game. The momentum didn’t last long, as Eugenio Suárez hit a go-ahead RBI double for Venezuela after Team USA manager Mark DeRosa opted to put Garrett Whitlock on the mound over Mason Miller in the top of the ninth.
After the game, DeRosa attempted to explain his reasoning for the decision, and he said it was due to the San Diego Padres’ wishes.
“Honoring the Padres,” DeRosa told reporters, according to Josh Davis of ClutchPoints. “Had we taken the lead, he was coming in, but I wasn’t going to bring him in to a tie game.”
The next World Baseball Classic won’t be until 2030, but DeRosa said that he’d love the chance to return as the U.S. manager.
“Oh, it would be 100 percent yes to do it again. I’d love to get over the finish line. Not only is it two times, but 3-2 both times. Why? If you saw how hurting the guys are in that locker room, you’d know why,” he said. “For some reason, this WBC has become a tidal wave of emotion for a lot of guys. You get them in the room representing their country, coming together for two-and-a-half weeks, the buy-in. It’s infectious in there.”
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.