MIAMI, FLORIDA.– The Venezuela team made history on Monday night by defeating Italy 4-2 and qualifying for the final of the 2026 World Baseball Classic for the first time.
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The game, held at
loanDepot Park, was defined by a three-run rally in the seventh inning that changed the course of the game and unleashed the euphoria of thousands of Venezuelan fans present in the stands.
Decisive Rally in the Seventh
With the score 2-1 in favor of Italy and two outs in the seventh inning, Venezuela reacted. The young Jackson Chourio hit a single to put runners on the corners, setting the stage for Ronald Acuña Jr. to tie the game with a hit to left field that drove in Andrés Giménez.
Following that,
Maikel García hit a productive hit that gave the South Americans the lead, while
Luis Arráez extended the difference with another run-scoring single to seal the score.
Italy competed, but did not resist
Italy had taken control early with two runs in the second inning against starter
Keider Montero, while veteran
Aaron Nola maintained dominance for several innings, despite allowing a solo home run by
Eugenio Suárez.
However, the Italian relay team couldn't contain the Venezuelan offensive in the final stretch of the match.
Key Bullpen for the Victory
After a short opening by Montero, the Venezuelan bullpen was decisive in limiting Italy to only three hits for the rest of the game. The relief corps, led by
Ricardo Sánchez,
Andrés Machado and
Daniel Palencia, silenced the rival offense at key moments.
The leader
Omar López highlighted the team's dedication and the chemistry shown throughout the tournament.
To the final against the United States
With this triumph, Venezuela advances to its first final in the history of the World Baseball Classic, where it will face
the United States, which previously eliminated the Dominican Republic.
The Venezuelan team will now seek its first title in the tournament, backed by a combination of solid pitching, defense, and timely hitting that has made it one of the most complete teams in the championship.
The final will be played this Tuesday, in what promises to be a high-level duel between two international baseball powerhouses.
Spanish
