Venezuela Advances to WBC Semifinals, Defeating Japan 8-5

In a thrilling quarterfinal matchup of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Saturday, March 14, Venezuela defeated Japan 8-5, securing a spot in the top four. Venezuela will now face Italy in the semi-finals.

Acuña Jr. Sparks Early Offense

Venezuela took an early lead in the first inning when Ronald Acuña Jr. Hit a leadoff single against Yamamoto Yoshinobu. Luis Arraez then drove in Acuña with an RBI single. Japan quickly responded, as Shohei Ohtani hit a home run off Venezuelan ace Ranger Suárez to tie the game.

Japanese Setback and Venezuelan Resilience

The game saw momentum shifts throughout. After Makoto Suzuki was walked, he attempted to steal second base but was injured during the play. In the second inning, Venezuela regained the lead, scoring a run off Yamamoto after hits from Ezequiel Tovar and Gleyber Torres.

Japan Briefly Takes the Lead

Japan countered in the third inning with a strong offensive showing. Teruaki Sato hit a double to tie the score and Shota Morishita followed with a three-run home run, giving Japan a 5-2 advantage.

Venezuela’s Comeback and Final Push

Venezuela battled back in the fifth inning, with Maikel Garcia hitting a two-run home run to narrow the gap to 4-5. The turning point came in the sixth inning against Japanese reliever Ito Daikai. Tovar and Torres both recorded hits, setting the stage for Wilyer Abreu, who hit a three-run home run to put Venezuela ahead.

Final Innings and Victory

Tovar added another run in the eighth inning, capitalizing on a passed ball during a stolen base attempt. Venezuela ultimately defeated Japan 8-5, eliminating the defending champions and advancing to the semi-finals.

Source: MLB.com, Battery Power