WBC USA Dominican Republic Baseball Dominican Republic's Junior Caminero looks up after hitting a home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) (Lynne Sladky/AP)
WBC USA Dominican Republic Baseball Dominican Republic's Junior Caminero celebrates his home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
WBC USA Dominican Republic Baseball Dominican Republic's Junior Caminero celebrates his home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
WBC USA Dominican Republic Baseball Dominican Republic's Junior Caminero (13) hits a home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
WBC USA Dominican Republic Baseball Dominican Republic's Junior Caminero (13) celebrates his home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal game against the United States, Sunday, March 15, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) (Lynne Sladky/AP)
MIAMI (AP) — Junior Caminero hit the Dominican Republic's record 15th home run of the World Baseball Classic, breaking a mark set by Mexico in 2009.
Paul Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, retired five straight batters before Caminero drove a 1-2 sweeper at the top of the strike zone 401 feet over the left field wall for a 1-0 second-inning lead against the United States in the semifinal round on Sunday night.
Caminero fired his bat about 30 feet toward teammates in the third base dugout in excitement, and they ran off the bench to greet him at the plate after he rounded the bases.
He entered batting .375 in six WBC games.
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