JUPITER, Fla. -- The excitement that resonated out of Marlins Park on Saturday night during the Dominican Republic's 7-5, comeback win over Team USA, spread across South Florida and around the baseball world.
"This was a Miami moment," Marlins president David Samson told MLB.com. "Everyone in Miami should feel proud, and I mean that. Last night, baseball served its purpose exactly correctly, as a means of entertainment and escape for people around the world."
:: 2017 World Baseball Classic ::
A crowd of 37,446, the largest ever in the six-year history of Marlins Park, was buzzing all night.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred was on hand for one of the most exciting games in the history of the World Baseball Classic.
"I was with the Commissioner last night, and that's what we were talking about," Samson said. "That anyone who was at this game understands why we do the World Baseball Classic, and why it's so important for players to participate, because the feeling that you get when you're at a game like that, in an atmosphere like that, you realize how much it matters."
Horns were blaring, drums were beating, and fans were waving the flags of the United States and Dominican Republic.
"To me, the atmosphere last night was the best atmosphere of any baseball game I've ever been to, and I must tell you, we've seen a World Series," Samson said. "The noise level, it felt like we were in Ann Arbor at a Michigan football game."
About eight Marlins players attended to support their teammates. Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton played for Team USA, and Edinson Volquez was the starting pitcher for the Dominican Republic.
"That game had a different kind of energy," first baseman Justin Bour said. "There were horns blowing from start to finish, by the time I got to the game until it ended. It was a really good time, a great game."
Bour felt it was important to be there for his teammates.
"Anything for America, I'm on board with," Bour said. "For me, it was a no-brainer, to make that trip, and go support the guys."
This is a big year for Marlins Park, with the All-Star Game set for July 11 in Miami.
"We're going to see three days like this in July," Samson said. "This is a good year for Marlins Park, a good year for baseball in Miami."
The World Baseball Classic runs through March 22. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, Petco Park, as well as the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.