Dominican Republic Powers to WBC Victory Over Venezuela

MIAMI — The Dominican Republic’s potent offense overwhelmed Venezuela in a 7-5 victory Wednesday night at loanDepot park, securing first place in Pool D of the World Baseball Classic. The Dominican Republic now boasts a tournament-leading 13 home runs through its first four games, surpassing the previous record of 14 set by Mexico in 2009.

Dominican Lineup Dominates

Juan Soto ignited the Dominican offense with a two-run blast in the first inning, setting the tone for a night of power hitting. Ketel Marte, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. Also contributed home runs, showcasing the depth and strength of the Dominican lineup. Manager Albert Pujols emphasized the team’s consistent ability to perform against top-tier pitching, stating, “I think our offense can hit against anybody. You can see the lineup from top to bottom. They have hit in the big leagues their whole career.”

Venezuela Fights Back, But Falls Short

Venezuela mounted a late rally in the ninth inning, scoring twice and loading the bases with the tying run on first. However, Dominican closer Elvis Alvarado induced a game-ending double play from Venezuela captain Salvador Perez, fielded cleanly by Manny Machado at third base.

Quarterfinal Matchups Set

With both teams already qualified for the quarterfinals, the result determined their opponents. The Dominican Republic will face Korea, the runner-up of Pool C, on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET (FS2). Venezuela will face the defending champion Japan, the winner of Pool C, on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET (FOX). Venezuela manager Omar López acknowledged the challenge, stating, “The Dominican offense is big. You cannot produce mistakes.”

A Rich Rivalry Continues

The Dominican Republic and Venezuela have a long-standing rivalry in the World Baseball Classic, having met in five of the six tournaments. The Dominican Republic now leads the series with five wins to Venezuela’s one, with Venezuela’s sole victory coming in 2023. The game featured a crowd of 36,230 fans, with strong support for both teams.

Legends in Attendance

The game drew a host of Dominican baseball legends, including Hall of Famers David Ortiz and Adrián Beltré, as well as former MLB stars José Bautista, Edwin Encarnación, and José Reyes, who came to witness the next generation of Dominican stars.

Fernando Tatis Jr. Described the atmosphere as electric, saying, “Regarding the fans: Wow. That was such an energy. The stadium was shaking.”