Spanish
MIAMI. – The Venezuelan national team achieved a historic victory by defeating Japan 8-5 and securing their ticket to the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in an exciting duel held at loanDepot Park.
The game began with a power duel between two of the great figures of world baseball. In the top of the first inning, Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a solo home run to open the scoring. However, in the bottom of the same inning, Japanese Shohei Ohtani responded with another home run to tie the game.
Japan took the lead in the third inning with an offensive rally that included hits from Teruaki Sato and Shota Morishita, putting the score at 5-2 in their favor.
The Venezuelan reaction came in the fifth inning when Maikel García hit a two-run home run to bring his team closer. One inning later, the South American team completed the comeback when Wilyer Abreu hit a three-run homer that turned the score around and put Venezuela ahead 7-5.
The Venezuelan bullpen was key to securing the victory. The relievers managed to contain the Japanese offense in the final innings, with the work of the pitchers who kept the Asian champions at bay standing out.
The last out of the game came with Shohei Ohtani as the final batter, thus sealing one of the most important victories for Venezuela in the history of the tournament.
With the victory, Venezuela advances to the semifinals of the tournament, where they will face Italy, a team that has former Major League catcher Francisco Cervelli on its coaching staff. The match is scheduled for this Sunday in Miami.
The victory equals Venezuela's best historical performance in the World Baseball Classic, when it reached the semifinals in the 2009 edition, and now the ninth vinotinto dreams of reaching the grand final of the tournament for the first time.
