USA Triumphs over Canada, Advances to World Baseball Classic Semis

Aaron Judge doubled and Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brice Turang each had two hits as the United States beat Canada 5-3 on Friday night to reach the World Baseball Classic semifinals. The US squad rebounded after an 8-6 loss to Italy in pool play left them needing help to advance to this round.

The Americans will face the Dominican Republic in the semifinals, a rematch of their pool play meeting that the Dominican Republic won 6-1. Aaron Judge and the US team will be looking to avenge that earlier defeat and keep their World Baseball Classic hopes alive.

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The game started with the US taking an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brice Turang set the table with two-hit performances, and Aaron Judge's booming double provided the big blow. Canada fought back, scoring single runs in the fourth, fifth and eighth innings, but it wasn't enough to overcome the American's initial surge.

In the end, Ryan Miller shut the door in the ninth inning, fanning the side to seal the 5-3 victory for the USA. The win sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash with the star-studded Dominican Republic squad, who many consider the tournament favorites.

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Both teams will be looking to punch their ticket to the World Baseball Classic finals, where the winner will be crowned the champion of the international baseball tournament. The US will need to bring their best effort to overcome the Dominican Republic, but they've proven they can win the close games when it matters most.

With Aaron Judge leading the way, and strong contributions from the rest of the lineup, the Americans have their sights set on the ultimate prize - a World Baseball Classic title. The semifinal matchup against the Dominicans promises to be a must-see clash between two of the tournament's top powerhouses.

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