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The United States came up just short of adding to their tally of World Baseball Classic titles last night. Shohei Ohtani of Team Japan struck out Mike Trout of the USA to end the game with a one-run lead.
It was an electric finish and a stellar showing for the USA, but they fell short of their ultimate goal. Their vaunted offense was absent against Japan's pitching and they couldn't overcome the deficit.
Ultimately, that leaves the USA with a lone WBC win. Their loss last night kept them from becoming repeat champions and two-time champions.
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When did USA last win the World Baseball
Classic?
In 2017, the last time baseball was on the world stage, the United States won it all. They topped Puerto Rico 8-0 in the final thanks to Marcus Stroman's excellence.
To this date, that remains their only win in the World Baseball Classic, which is why last night was so important to them. They're a dominant power in baseball, but Japan now has three titles to the USA's one.
They have a strong roster and arguably the biggest talent pool to draw from, but on the world stage, Japan has proven to be stronger.
In 2009, the United States finished fourth for their only other top-four finish.
The Classic will return in 2026. Will the United States be able to secure their second title or will Japan continue their dominance?
