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6/6 🧵

USA's 5-0 all-time vs Canada in WBC, but this wasn't dominant — it was survival. Defense and bullpen bailed out a quiet offense. Against the DR's star-studded roster and bat-flipping swagger? They'll need to wake up fast. No more gifts.

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#threadstorm

5/6 🧵

Next up: The Dominican Republic in Miami on Sunday. Paul Skenes vs. a lineup of Tatis Jr., Soto, Guerrero Jr., Machado, Julio Rodríguez. Single elimination. DeRosa called it "one of the greatest games of all time." The Dominicans just mercy-ruled South Korea with an Austin Wells walk-off.

4/6 🧵

The offense? Still underwhelming. Judge went 1-for-3, Harper and Schwarber reached base, but this team hasn't unleashed the juggernaut lineup yet. Pete Crow-Armstrong admitted it: "It hasn't been all that pretty... we're looking to really wake up one of these days soon."

3/6 🧵

Canada fought back hard. Bo Naylor's 2-run homer in the 6th cut it to 5-3, then they loaded the bases with zero outs in the 7th. Yankees' David Bednar saved the season — 26 high-pressure pitches, escaped the jam with a strikeout and pop-up. Garrett Whitlock and Mason Miller slammed the door.

2/6 🧵

The game-changer: Alex Bregman's grounder should've ended the 3rd inning. Instead, Abraham Toro airmailed the throw to first with bases loaded, gifting USA three runs. That error turned a tight 1-0 game into a 4-0 cushion — the difference between advancing and another meltdown.

1/6 🧵

Team USA dodged disaster in Houston — barely squeaking past Canada 5-3 in the WBC quarterfinals. After the Italy embarrassment and Mark DeRosa's premature clinching claim, the Americans needed a clean win. They got a messy one instead, saved by Canada's fielding error and clutch bullpen work.