Now that was a tournament to remember. While Team USA kicks off celebrating its rout of Puerto Rico in the championship game, let's take a look back at the most exciting moments the 2017 World Baseball Classic had to offer:
Marcus Stroman delivers a gem
Ian Kinsler staked the U.S. to a 2-0 lead in Wednesday's championship game with a home run, but Stroman stole the show with a dominant performance, taking a no-hitter into the seventh and leaving the game to a standing ovation in the Americans' 8-0 win over Puerto Rico.
Israel starts out 4-0
After going 3-0 in the first round in its first WBC, including a 10-inning upset over Korea, Israel started the second round with a 4-1 win over Cuba. The ride ended after that, with losses to the Netherlands and Japan.
Drew Smyly fans six in a row.
The most dominant pitching performance of the tournament might have been the Mariners lefty's performance against Venezuela in the second round, in which he struck out eight in 4⅔ innings, including the final six batters he faced -- Martin Prado, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Rougned Odor, Alcides Escobar and Carlos Gonzalez.
Manny Machado’s throw from the third-base concession stand
Machado and Carlos Correa were highlight reels at third base all tournament, but this play to throw out Cabrera was the best.
Italy stuns Mexico
Trailing 9-5 in the bottom of the ninth off their first-round game, Italy scored five runs off Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna -- without making an out.
Jose Bautista breaks the hearts of Colombia
With Colombia on the verge of a monumental first-round upset over the Dominicans, Bautista saved the day by throwing out the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game to extra innings, where the D.R. would prevail.
Nelson Cruz goes yard off Andrew Miller
In the Dominican Republic’s dramatic win over the U.S. in the first round, Miller tried to slip an 0-2 slider past Cruz. He didn’t, and Cruz launched a three-run homer to give the D.R. a 6-5 lead and send the Dominican fans in Miami into an all-night party.
Edwin Diaz throwing smoke
In a tense, 11-inning victory over the Netherlands in the semifinals, Puerto Rico’s Diaz struck out the side in the 10th and then got out of the two-on jam in the 11th, when WBC rule puts two runners on base to start the inning. Yes, he was pumped up, and, yes, that’s three Mariners on this list. The Mariners haven’t played this well since 2001.
Javier Baez's no-look tag and celebration
I have never seen this before. You have never seen this before. That’s because I’m pretty sure it has never happened before. As Willy Wonka once said, “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.”
The Adam Jones catch
Jones robbed Orioles teammate Machado in the seventh inning against the Dominican Republic in a game that determined which team would advance to the semifinals.