MIAMI – Cristopher Sánchez, Dominican pitcher, left his mark on baseball history on Friday night. During the match between the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, held at loanDepot park in Miami, Sánchez achieved something unusual: an inning with four strikeouts.
The Dominican left-hander began the game by striking out Chase Dawson, the first Nicaraguan batter. However, Dawson reached first base due to a wild pitch.
Nicaragua’s offensive took advantage of the situation, with consecutive unstoppable hits by Benjamín Alegría and Ismael Munguía, and a walk to Mark Vientos, which loaded the bases with no outs and gave them the lead.
Sánchez responded with determination. The Philadelphia Phillies’ opener dominated the next three batters, Omar Mendoza, Emanuel Trujillo, and Melvin Novoa, striking them all out.
This performance made Sánchez the first pitcher in World Baseball Classic history to achieve an inning with four strikeouts. This unusual situation occurs when a batter reaches base after a missed third strike.
The dramatic episode marked the beginning of an encounter full of emotions between both teams, before a large attendance of fans in Miami.
Despite his historical feat, Sánchez’s participation on the mound was short. The pitcher left the game after working only 1.1 innings, allowing two earned runs and six hits.
