The Dominican Republic's World Baseball Classic dreams ended Sunday night in Miami with a controversial call that left players frustrated. Team USA defeated the D.R. 2-1 when home-plate umpire Cory Blaser called a full-count slider for a strike against Geraldo Perdomo despite the pitch being clearly below the zone. The blown call came one inning after star Juan Soto was also rung up on a questionable slider.

Soto and his teammates maintained composure after the loss, emerging from the clubhouse with smiles and music. "We showed the world who's the best team in baseball," Soto told ESPN. The frustration was palpable, however, as players argued the call ended their championship hopes. The automated ball-strike challenge system, which will debut in MLB this season, is not being used in the WBC, leaving no recourse for such blown calls.

Team USA will face the winner of Italy-Venezuela in the WBC finals Monday at 8 p.m. ET. The game featured elite pitching from both sides, with the U.S. bullpen shutting down a Dominican team that had dominated through pool play. A crowd of 36,337, strongly pro-Dominican, booed the controversial calls. While the ending left a sour taste, both teams showcased why they're considered the most talented in the tournament.