Skenes’ decision to pitch in WBC rewarded with semifinal glory

Paul Skenes committed to pitching for the United States at the World Baseball Classic in May.

At the time, he said it was an opportunity he did not want to pass up — even though plenty of U.S. pitchers had in the past declined to interrupt their spring training regimes for the tournament.

So when the reigning National League Cy Young winner steered the U.S. to victory over the Dominican Republic in one of the most anticipated games in the history of the WBC, it made him all the more sure he made the right decision to take part.