World Baseball Classic: United States dominates Cuba 14-2 to reach championship game

The United States is just a win away from successfully defending its World Baseball Classic title.

The United States dominated Cuba 14-2 in the WBC semifinals on Sunday night at LoanDepot Park, thanks largely to a pair of massive home runs from Trea Turner in what was a wild offensive showing for Team USA. They’ll move into the championship game on Tuesday night, where they’l take on either Japan or Mexico in Miami. A win there would make the United States just the second two-time winner of the event.

Cuba took an early 1-0 lead after Adam Wainwright walked in Roel Santos in the first inning. That, though, was about their only high point of the night.

The United States jumped in the bottom of the inning when Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer off of Roenis Elias.

Turner then hit one of his own deep over the left field wall in the next inning.

Then in the third, Pete Alonso hit Nolan Arenado in after the United States loaded up the bases on Carlos Viera. Tim Anderson hit Kyle Schwarber in with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to four before the end of the inning, too.

Arenado hit an RBI triple in the fourth to give the United States another run.

Arenado scored before the end of the inning, too, when he stole home on a wild pitch. That pushed the United States to a 7-1 lead.

While Cuba finally got on the board again after an Andy Ibanez single in the fifth, Goldschmidt hit a two RBI single in the bottom of the inning. The United States could have gotten more there, but failed to convert more runs and ended the inning with the bases loaded. Arenado left the game after his hand was hit by a pitch that inning, but initial x-rays came back negative.

Turner then hit his second home run of the night, and fourth of the tournament, in the sixth inning. His deep shot to left put the United States up by 10 runs. Mike Trout then hit an RBI double to add another before the inning ended, too.

Cedric Mullins added a solo shot in the eighth inning for good measure, and then the United States quickly closed out the final half inning to officially take the 12-run win.

Cuba has a solid showing in the WBC, especially back in pool play in Taiwan. They went 2-2 to make it out of that round with Italy, and then beat Australia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. But on Sunday night, they simply couldn't compete with the United States — who now will either get to go up against Mexico again or Japan, which is searching for a third title, in an effort to defend the WBC title after a six year layoff.

After Sunday's blowout win, the United States has to be feeling good heading into Tuesday.