Dominican Republic defeats Netherlands in WBC matchup

Juan Soto's two-run homer ends game early in the 7th inning

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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In a World Baseball Classic game played on Sunday, March 8, 2026 in Miami, the Dominican Republic defeated the Netherlands by an early termination in the seventh inning after Juan Soto hit a two-run homer to give the Dominican Republic the win.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international baseball tournament that features the top players from around the world. This matchup between the Dominican Republic and Netherlands was an important early-round game that could impact the tournament standings and advancement.

The details

With the game tied in the seventh inning, Dominican Republic star Juan Soto came up to bat and hit a two-run homer to give his team the lead. The early termination rule was then invoked, ending the game and giving the Dominican Republic the victory.

  • The game was played on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • The game ended in the seventh inning due to the early termination rule.

The players

Juan Soto

A star player for the Dominican Republic who hit the game-winning two-run homer in the seventh inning.

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What they’re saying

“That was a huge hit by Juan to give us the win. The team really needed that in a close game against a tough opponent.”

— Manager of Dominican Republic team (Citrus County Chronicle)

What’s next

The Dominican Republic will advance to the next round of the World Baseball Classic tournament with this victory.

The takeaway

The Dominican Republic's star-studded roster proved too much for the Netherlands in this early WBC matchup, with Juan Soto's late heroics securing the win for the powerhouse Dominican team.