Team USA now has its opponent for the World Baseball Classic final. In a thrilling game, Venezuela rallied to defeat Italy 4-2 in the second semifinal played at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, earning a spot in the final to be played this Wednesday at the same venue.
Trailing midway through the contest, Venezuela broke through with a decisive seventh-inning rally fueled by clutch two-out hitting from its All-Star core.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel García, and Luis Arráez delivered consecutive RBI singles to overturn a one-run deficit and send a sellout, pro-Venezuelan crowd into celebration.
The victory capped another comeback for Venezuela, which had already rallied earlier in the tournament to eliminate defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals.
Venezuela will face the United States in Wednesday’s championship game at the same Miami venue, with both teams entering the final holding identical 5-1 tournament records.
Venezuela’s stars deliver in decisive seventh inning
Italy struck first and carried momentum early, taking a 2-0 lead after capitalizing on control issues and timely situational hitting. The Europeans – the first from their continent to reach a WBC semifinal – appeared poised to continue their historic run.
But Eugenio Suárez ignited Venezuela’s comeback with a fourth-inning solo home run, cutting the deficit and shifting momentum.
The turning point came in the seventh. After Gleyber Torres reached base and Jackson Chourio extended the inning, Acuña beat out a ground ball to drive in the tying run.
García followed with a go-ahead single, and Arráez added insurance with another two-out hit that chased Italy starter Michael Lorenzen.
Venezuela’s bullpen preserved the lead the rest of the way, with Daniel Palencia recording the save by striking out Sam Antonacci to end the game.
Italy’s breakthrough run ends just short
Italy entered the semifinal undefeated and one of the tournament’s biggest surprises, drawing attention with energetic celebrations and a roster blending major leaguers, minor leaguers and Italian-born talent.
Despite outhitting Venezuela early, Italy could not overcome the late surge against a deep Venezuelan lineup stacked with established stars.
The loss ended Italy’s best World Baseball Classic performance, while Venezuela advanced beyond the semifinals for the first time after previously falling at that stage in 2009.
Now, one win separates Venezuela from its first WBC title as it prepares to meet Team USA for the championship in Miami – a matchup featuring two of the tournament’s most explosive offenses and a chance at history for both nations.
Boxscore
- Venezuela 000 100 300 – 4 8 0
- Italy 020 000 000 – 2 5 0
- W: Zerpa
- L: Lorenzen
- S: Palencia, D
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