How Adam Wainwright & Paul Goldschmidt's first-inning exploits sparked Team USA's blowout of Cuba in WBC semis

David Suggs

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How Adam Wainwright & Paul Goldschmidt's first-inning exploits sparked Team USA's blowout of Cuba in WBC semis image

The run had been coming, the result of shaky pitching — and fielding — by Adam Wainwright.

The USA starter looked anything but an ace in the game's opening half-inning. And when Wainwright's curveball dipped out of the zone, forcing Cuba's Roel Santos home on a bases-loaded walk, the game seemed on the precipice of getting out of hand.

That didn't happen, though. Wainwright and company got out of the inning. Then it pounced, taking the lead in the bottom half and refusing to relinquish it.

MORE: USA mashes, dashes past Cuba to clinch second straight WBC final berth

So, how did it happen? Here's a rundown of just how Wainwright and fellow Cardinals star Paul Goldschmidt spearheaded the U.S. rout on Sunday night.

Top of first inning

Mistakes were aplenty for the Americans in the opening frame. Shortstop-turned-second baseman Tim Anderson misplayed Santos' early grounder, allowing the speedster to reach on an infield single.

It was a preview of what was to come. The very next two batters — White Sox standouts Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert — made their way on after Wainwright whiffed on not one, but two, infield choppers.

The 41-year-old hurler completed the unsightly opening with a walk of cleanup hitter Alfredo Despaigne. The atmosphere at Miami's loanDepot Park was tense, to say the least: bases juiced, none away, a run on the board and a seemingly frazzled pitcher.

A mound visit from USA pitching coach Andy Pettitte followed. It was a reset for Wainwright, a chance to get an accurate assessment of just what was going wrong for him. His conclusion? Not much.

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"I had to step off the mound and I just had to realize they weren't smacking me around," Wainwright said post-game. "It wasn't like they were hitting balls hard. I was getting myself into situations that I didn't need to get myself into."

He took a deep breath, then took another. The curveball got Wainwright into this mess. He reckoned it could get him out of it, too.

"I've probably had, I don't know, 100 moments kind of similar to that where I have bases loaded, no outs and had to figure out a way to make it work," Wainwright said. "Luckily I got a good curveball."

Ol' Reliable came up trumps for Wainwright, who coaxed weak contact (and got a smart defensive play from Cards third baseman Nolan Arenado) to set down three Cuban batters in a row. The Stars and Stripes were down just one run. And it felt like a major win.

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"I just think nothing will faze him," USA manager Mark DeRosa said before the game, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "I think he's pitched on the biggest stage, he's succeeded on the biggest stage, he wants the ball."

He got that right.

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Bottom of first inning

What's the best way to cut into a lead? Strike early.

That's just what Mookie Betts did, whizzing the second pitch of the frame to left field for a stand-up double.

Things got quite easy for the U.S. from there. Two batters later, Goldschmidt sent a laser into the cheap seats in left field.

Goldschmidt's blast did a couple things for the U.S. First, it showcased just how explosive the American lineup was. Within an inning, Cuban starter Roenis Elias would be pulled, the preamble to a sorry day of pitching for the island nation.

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It also served as a reminder of just how close-knit DeRosa's unit is. There was no better reflection of that than when Goldschmidt returned to the dugout after the end of the frame.

Wainwright pulled it together, going four strong innings for an American side that was limited in the number of pitchers it could use Sunday because of club restrictions. He even dropped in these beauties:

He then turned it over to fellow St. Louis hurler Miles Mikolas, who was equally effective over the next four.

The American lineup would come to life, as well, bludgeoning Cuba's pitching, highlighted by four homers, including two more by Trea Turner. The end result? A 14-2 mauling that puts the U.S.'s opponent in the WBC final — Japan or Mexico — on notice.

All in a day's work for Wainwright, Goldschmidt and company.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.