USA vs Colombia summary: scores, stats and highlights | 2023 World Baseball Classic
USA's bullpen key to 3-2 win over Colombia
USA's bullpen key to 3-2 win over Colombia
This is a great win for the USA in that it solidifies their place in the quarterfinals, but for a team that was widely seen as the strongest lineup in the world, and by a long way, it a flat ending to a rather disappointing group stage. With the exception of Canada, every team has been competitive against the USA. Of course the loss to Mexico, but they only beat Colombia by one, and even lowly Great Britain were only beaten by four. It all seems so... lackluster.
At no point did Colombia seem out of the running. And with this USA lineup, the game should have been put out of reach early on. It just never was.
In the end, the saving grace for the USA was the formidable bullpen that they have assembled, not their famed prodigious bats. As they move into the knockout round, however, there is a sickening feeling that it may not be enough. They will face Venezuela in the quarterfinal, a team who can boast a lineup and a bullpen that is nearly the equal of the USA's.
If they should get past Venezuela? Japan awaits.
For Colombia, this is the worst possible outcome. They played amazingly well, doing things that are far better than their finish should suggest. In every contest, they were in the fight, pushing every team to the limit. Their win over Mexico might have been their only one, but it was no anomaly. Colombia are good enough to beat anyone, anytime.
But with this loss, they have finished bottom of the group, meaning that they will miss out on automatic qualification and will need to go through the qualification process before the 2026 WBC.
This is going to be the end of our live coverage of USA vs Colombia. We hope that you have enjoyed it as much as we have! Thank you for joining us and keep Diario AS USA in your bookmarks for all WBC and baseball news as we will bring you every game, live and as it happens.
Diaz can't check his swing for strike three. The ball is in the dirt, but Will Smith tracks it down and makes the throw to first to complete the strikeout. USA wins!
Adrian Sanchez will head out to pinch run for Diaz as another pinch hitter steps in to the box. Jordan Diaz will hit for Gustavo Campero.
Diaz rips a rocket to short, too hot for Trea Turner to pull in. Base hit for Colombia.
Colombia are down to their last out and the put it in the hands of pinch-hitter Elias Diaz, who hits for Meibrys Viloria.
Reynaldo Rodriguez smokes one to right field but Mookie Betts races to the corner to nab it for the second out. Great catch by Betts!
Alfaro smacks one to third, fielded by Arenado.
Arenado spins and makes the throw to first for the out.
Bottom 9th
Jorge Alfaro will lead off for Colombia and they are down to their last three outs.
Pitching change
Ryan Pressly will come on for the USA to slam the door shut on Colombia
Tim Anderson slaps a hard shot to first, fielded cleanly by Rodriguez, who makes the play himself to retire the side.
Cedric Mullins comes to the plate now and chases a sinker for strike three.
Alonso gets jammed and pops a blooper to first. Rodriguez hauls it in for out number one.
Top 9th
Pete Alonso will lead off for the USA
Pitching change
Colombia calls on Julio Vivas to get them throught the ninth with no damage.
Gio Urshela gets one in play, a slow grounder to short. Trea Turner picks it and makes the throw for out number three.
Harold Ramirez goes after the same change up. It is filthy. In the dirt and just bottoms out. Two down.
Mercado gets all mixed up on one of the nastiest change ups in the game. He swings through strike three and winds up on his knees.
Bottom 8th
Oscar Mercado will lead off for Colombia and they have a diminishing number of innings to work with. Just six outs remaining.
Pitching change
Jason Adam struck out the side last inning, but gets the yank in favor of Devin Williams for team USA.
Nolan Arenado comes up and nubs one off the end of the bat to first. Reynaldo Rodriguez fields it and makes the play himself to end the inning.
Paul Goldschmidt gets the same treatment, fastball and slider giving him short shrift. Two down
Zuniga has some mustard on his pitches and he gets Mike Trout swinging on strike three.
Top 8th
Mike Trout will lead off for the USA. There are a few defensive changes for Colombia as well, with Gustavo Campero coming into right for Dilson Herrera, with Harold Ramirez shifting over to left.
Pitching change
Colombia will bring on Guillermo Zuniga to take over the mound from Yapson Gomez
Dayan Frias now up and shows more restraint, managing to run the count to 2-2 before inevitably chasing a slider for strike three. Jason Adams strikes out the side.
Fabian Pertuz just about drills himself into the ground, chasing a slider that was so far outside, so low! Strike three
Herrera chases a low slider for strike three and we have one away
Bottom 7th
There will be a defensive change for the USA as Cedric Mullins will take over at left field for Kyle Schwarber.
For Colombia, a pinch hitter, Dilson Herrera will come in for Jesus Marriaga to lead off and face Adam.
Pitching change
The USA will ask Jason Adam to take over the pitching duties.
Mookie Betts flies one out to center field where Oscar Mercado puts it away to end the inning.
Trea Turner attacks the first ball and smacks it straight back up the middle for a single to center.
Will Smith jumps on the first pitch and lifts it out to Oscar Mercado for the second out.
Anderson chases a change up in the dirt for strike three. One away
Top 7th
TIm Anderson will lead off for the USA here in the seventh.
Meibrys Viloria pops one stright up on the left side. Trea Turner grabs it for the third out.
Reynaldo Rodriguez chops the first pitch to third, where Arenado makes the long throw across the diamond for the second out.
Alfaro gets straight heat and chases a high one for strike three.
Bottom 6th
Jorge Alfaro will lead off for Colombia.
Pitching change
Mark DeRosa call for David Bednar to take over on the mound for the USA.
Kyle Schwarber comes to the plate and grounds a sharp one to second. Pertuz flips to Frias, who goes to first for the 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Pitching change
Jolbert Cabrera will head out to the mound and make the change. Yapson Gomez replaces Jasier Herrera.
Pete Alonso steps up to the plate and lines a shot to Frias at short for the out.
He gets a slider and rips it into right center field for a leadoff single.
Top 6th
Nolan Arenado will now lead off the sixth for the USA.
The pitch on that steal was a called strike. Two more and Urshela goes down to end the inning.
Gio Urshela will now see if he can get something going. Mercado takes off and the throw is in time, but short hopped. Safe at second. The USA challenge it and the call is overturned. Out at second.
Harold Ramirez now steps in for Colombia and skies one out to left. Kyle Schwarber camps out under it for out number one.
Bard is having trouble finding the zone and although the count runs full, he loses Mercado to a leadoff walk.
Bottom 5th
Oscar Mercado will lead off the inning for Colombia.
Pitching change
The USA will call on Daniel Bard to replace Kendall Graveman on the mound.
Paul Goldschmidt jumps on the first pitch and grounds it to third. Urshela goes to second and the throw to first is in time. 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Trout rips one to left for a single, scoring both Smith and Betts on the play. The USA have taken the lead right back again. 3-2
Mike Trout will face the new pitcher with runners on second and third and one out.
Pitching change
Jolbert Cabrera will come out to the mound and take the ball from Ruben Galindo. Jasier Herrera will get the call out of the bullpen.
Betts rips one to left field and Smith advances to third. The throw home allowed an aggressive Betts to take second.
Mookie Betts now comes to the plate and takes a ball in the dirt.
The 1-2 is a nice change up that bottoms out, catching Turner swinging for the first out.
Galindo puts one in the dirt. Alfaro blocks it but it gets away enough for Smith to take second.
Trea Turner is now up at the plate and gets two quick fastball strikes.
Galindo can't seem to find the strike zone, walking Smith on four straight piitches.
Top 5th
Will Smith will lead off for the USA.
Pitching change
Ruben Galindo will be called upon by Colombia to replaces Jhon Romero on the mound.
Oscar Mercado comes to the plate and Graveman makes a brilliant pickoff move to first that catches Frias a little too far off the bag to end the inning.
Dayan Frias jumps on the first pitch and grounds it to first. Goldschmidt goes to second for the force and the throw back to first is not in time. Fielders choice.
Fabian Pertuz attacks the second pitch and hits a shot into left for a single.
Bottom 4th
Jesus Marriaga will lead off for Colombia and gets three sinkers for the quick strikeout.
Pitching change
The USA is going to pull Merrill Kelly. Instead they turn to Kendall Graveman on the mound.
Tim Anderson stands in and gets a fastball to set it up, but goes down on that same change up. The side is retired in order.
Kyle Schwarber comes to the plate and sees that same change up. Soooooo nasty. The bottom just falls out of it and Schwarber goes down swinging.
Romero feeds Alonso a nasty changeup for a swinging strike three.
Top 4th
Pete Alonso will lead off for the USA, who are trailing for the first time tonight.
Viloria smashes one to center field, but Trout manages to track it down and put it away to end the inning. At the end of three, Colombia lead the USA by a score of 2-1
Meibrys Viloria now comes to the plate and will likely be the last hitter to face Kelly. The USA bullpen is up and active.
Reynaldo Rodriguez sees a steady diet of breaking balls, showing good plate discipline as the count runs full. The payoff pitch is smashed to centerfield, coming off the wall for a double. Alfaro was moving on the pitch and scores on the play. Colombia take the lead 2-1.
Jorge Alfaro breaks his bat on a sharp roller over the mound. Trea Turner can't keep it in his glove and Alfaro is safe at first.
Gio Urshela bangs a drive to center field. Trout charges and makes the out, but Mercado tags up at third and the throw to the plate is not in time. Colombia tie the game up at 1 run each.
Harold Ramirez comes to the plate now and goes after the first pitch, tapping a grounder to second. Anderson makes the throw to to first for the out as Mercado scoots over to 3rd.
Bottom 3rd
Oscar Mercado leads off and jumps on the first ball, ripping a doubles to center field.
Arenado jumps on the fastball and lifts it high to left. Jesus Marriaga is back to the track, to the wall, and makes the catch. Arenado missed a home run by a couple of feet. Colombia get out of a jam, but the USA open the scoring. We head to the bottom of the third, USA 1, Colombia nothing.
Romero will face Nolan Arenado with two men on and two out.
Pitching change
That is going to be the last pitch for Flores. Manager Jolbert Cabrera will call for Jhon Romero to try and dig them out of this hole.
Paul Goldschmidt comes to the plate now with Trout on first and two outs. He shows great discipline and draws the walk.
Trout takes the outside slider to the gap in right for a single, Betts scores from second! The USA draw first blood, 1-0
Mike Trout now will step in and Santiago Florez puts a slider in the dirt. It gets past Alfaro allowing Betts to second on the play. He is now in scoring position.
Betts waits on the 3-2 slider and takes it to the opposite field for a single to right.
Mookie Betts now will step up to the plate and riips one into the second deck in left field, but foul. Wow, that flew a mile!
Trea Turner will now hed up to face Flores and lines one sharply to left. Marriaga gets in front of it and makes the charging catch for the second out.
Top 3rd
Will Smith will lead off here in the top of the 3rd and runs the count full before chasing a slider for strike three. One down.
Dayan Frias grounds out and Kelly gets out of jam here. Bases loaded for Colombia and an opportunity wasted. Here comes team USA now.
Pertuz pops and all the same. No one goes for the run here. Frias up now for Colombia.
Pertuz with a 2-2 here. Colombia looking to get something out of this.
Marriaga get his base and not good for team USA. Bases loaded and one out. Theres a mount visit here and they will still keep their pitcher.
Full count here for Marriaga. Runners on second and first and one out. Colombia looking good here.
Viloria gets a hit on a pop that Tim Anderson fails to get. He will want that one back. Runner on second and first.
Reynaldo Rodríguez strikesout! And one out for the Americans
Alfaro get his base. Colombia with some action here. No outs, one on first and here comes Reynaldo Rodriguez.
Alfaro comes up. Best hitter for Colombia coming up. Nothing much on these both two teams. They are still studying themselves.
Tim Anderson strikesout here. And Colombia at bat again.
Colombia didn’t like that last play. That ball was very close at the wall for Luis De Avila. They can’t allow any runs tonight.
Pitching Substitution - Colombia
Santiago Florez replaces Luis De Avila.
Schwarber flies out. Long long but caught by the Colombian. A bit more and that would have been the first HR of the game.
Pete Alonso grounds out and Colombia breaths a bit.
Team USA is looking good in this first inning. Colombia didn’t do much on offense. And even though the team didn’t score on their first at bat. They got a runner on third quite quickly. Setting up what can be a good game for them.
Tim Anderson in fashion gets the grounder from Urshela. And here comes the Americans to try to get something on the board.
Puerto Rico seem set to win over the Dominican Republic and clinch a QF place. You can follow the end of that with Jeff.
Harold Ramirez flies out to center fielder Mike Trout. Team USA getting it done fast.
Double play for Colombia! Arenado grounds to third where Ursula gets the ball and sets the double play. They needed this and maybe the jitters are gone.
Goldschmidt Take his base and runners on first and third one out. Colombia suffering here.
What a way to start!! A triple here! Mike Trout with the first hit of the game and runner on third !
Mookie Betts lines out to Jesus Marriaga. Nice hit by the American but a nice dive by the Colombian to get that out.
Ball one! Here we go!! Colombia starts at the mount. And let’s see what they can do.
Cold at bat for Colombia
The South American’s need to win this and not finish fourth and get that direct invitation. If they do win they get that second place if they can win by more than 3 runs. Let’s see what they can do.
It’s almost play ball time!
Game is just coming up guys. You won’t want to miss this one. They both need to win this game. And Colombia won’t be easy to beat.
Full house tonight
Chase Fiel is looking full tonight! This is what playing at home looks like guys.
Puerto Rico and Dom
These two team’s are giving us some of the best moments in WBC tournament.
Team USA’s uniform tonight
What do you guys think? Like it? I quire like that Colombian yellow.
That’s what is all about guys
Today is a big game the Americans and they will need all the encouragement possible.
Everyone is with Team USA
Nice message from the USWNT. They’ll be watching and cheering for the guys to win tonight.
We got Colombia’s lineup as well
No big surprises for the Colombians. Luis De Avila will be in the mount tonight.
Team USA getting in the house
The Americans are already signing autographs and getting ready for tonight’s game.
Hello! Hello! Welcome back to another exciting night of baseball. He has a great game for you guys tonight. It is do or die for Team USA and Colombia. After Mexico beat Canada earlier this afternoon, it all became that much tighter. Colombia needs a win here in order to get an invitation back to the WBC, at least.
Team USA had a big loss against Mexico and will look to redeem themselves. The Americans are the tournament's favorite, and that loss against Mexico shook things up. But they have the tools and experience to win this one and get to the tournament's next stage.
Canada will also be looking at this game. If Colombia gets a win tonight, that means that they are out, and Colombia is in, at least for an invitation back. If team USA wins, that means Canada secures that fourth place and could make it to the next round. So don't leave and stay with us tonight.