Pete Crow Armstrong warns Dominican Republic as Team USA turns to Paul Skenes after tense World Baseball Classic win

Team USA has moved one step closer to the title at the World Baseball Classic after defeating Canada national baseball team 5–3 in the quarterfinal on Friday. The win pushed the Americans into the semifinal round for the third straight tournament and the fourth time overall. One of the key moments came from Pete Crow Armstrong, who scored the fifth run that helped secure the victory.

Now the challenge becomes much bigger. Team USA will face the powerful Dominican Republic national baseball team, which crushed South Korea national baseball team 10–0 in the other quarterfinal. With stars like Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr., the Dominican lineup has looked dangerous throughout the tournament. Still, Crow Armstrong believes Team USA is ready for the moment, especially with ace pitcher Paul Skenes expected to start in the semifinal.

Pete Crow Armstrong says Team USA welcomes the challenge as Paul Skenes prepares to face Dominican Republic lineup

After the quarterfinal win, Pete Crow Armstrong spoke about the upcoming semifinal and the energy he expects when Team USA meets the Dominican Republic.

“That’s what we’re looking forward to,” Crow Armstrong said. “We want the electricity, the energy in the crowd. That’s why we’re throwing Mr. Skenes out there. Whatever he’s gonna give them, it’s gonna be good.”

Paul Skenes has been one of the standout pitchers still active in the tournament. The Pittsburgh Pirates star is widely seen as the best arm remaining after Team USA pitcher Tarik Skubal left the event following only one start.

Still, the assignment will not be easy. The Dominican Republic lineup has produced runs at a historic rate during the tournament. Their offense, led by Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr., has been one of the most productive groups seen in the history of the World Baseball Classic.

Team USA’s road to the semifinal has not been perfect either. The team entered the tournament as one of the favorites, especially with captain Aaron Judge leading the roster. However, the Americans faced an unexpected setback when they lost to Italy national baseball team in their final pool game.

That defeat meant the team had to wait for other results to secure a quarterfinal spot. Crow Armstrong admitted that the path has not always looked smooth, but he believes the group has still found ways to win.

“We know what we have in this clubhouse,” he said. “I think it’s just most important that when it’s not always easy, not the cleanest, we’re still getting the job done, someway, somehow. We’re really looking forward to waking up one of these days.”

The semifinal will also feature an interesting pitching matchup. Paul Skenes is expected to start for Team USA, while the Dominican Republic is set to counter with Luis Severino, a former New York Yankees ace. With both teams filled with star power, the semifinal promises to be one of the biggest games of the tournament so far.






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