Baseball fans furious after Cory Blaser strike call as Mason Miller strikes out Geraldo Perdomo in USA vs Dominican Republic WBC semifinal

Team USA reached the final of the World Baseball Classic on Sunday night, but the ending left many baseball fans angry and confused. The United States beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a tight semifinal game after closing pitcher Mason Miller struck out Geraldo Perdomo in the ninth inning.

The final pitch, however, quickly became the center of attention. American umpire Cory Blaser called it a strike, ending the game instantly. Replays shown on television appeared to show the ball dropping well below the strike zone. Geraldo Perdomo reacted right away, putting his hands on his head in disbelief as the game ended.Within minutes, fans and former players began reacting online. Many said the pitch should have been called a ball and that such a big game should not end with a questionable decision.

The moment quickly turned into one of the most debated calls of this World Baseball Classic tournament.

Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and fans question Cory Blaser call as Mason Miller strikeout of Geraldo Perdomo sparks WBC technology debate

The reaction grew even louder once the replay spread across social media. Many baseball fans openly criticized the decision by umpire Cory Blaser. One fan wrote, “Terrible.” Another said, “I want Team USA to win but what is that call?” A third fan joked that the umpire “just wanted to go home.”The debate also reached television broadcasts. Speaking on the Fox postgame show, former Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez shared his disappointment with how the game ended.

“You just hate to end a game this big with these types of consequences on a pitch that’s not a strike,” Alex Rodriguez said on Fox.

The controversial moment was not the only call that frustrated the Dominican Republic. Earlier in the eighth inning, Juan Soto was also called out on strikes on a pitch that appeared to be outside the zone. That moment added to the anger among fans watching the game.Because of these calls, many people once again pushed for technology to help decide balls and strikes.

Some fans argued that relying only on umpires is becoming outdated.New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter also spoke about the issue during the discussion.“You can pretty much guarantee they’re going to have the challenge system in place for the next WBC,” Derek Jeter said. “You hate to end a game that way.”Major League Baseball is already moving in that direction. Starting in 2026, players in MLB will be able to challenge ball and strike calls using the Automated Ball Strike Challenge System, often called ABS.Before the late controversy, the game itself was close and intense from the beginning. Junior Caminero gave the Dominican Republic an early lead. But Team USA responded in the fourth inning when Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony each drove in runs to put the Americans ahead 2-1.From that point forward, both pitching staffs kept the score locked. The Dominican Republic could not break through again, and Mason Miller handled the pressure in the ninth inning to close the game.With the win, Team USA moved into its third straight World Baseball Classic final. The American team will now face either Italy or Venezuela in Tuesday’s championship game.The roster includes several of baseball’s biggest names. National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes is part of the pitching staff, while stars like Bryce Harper are also on the team. Team USA previously won the World Baseball Classic in 2017 before losing the 2023 final to Shohei Ohtani and Japan.Now the American squad is just one win away from another championship, even though the semifinal ending is still being argued by fans around the baseball world.