Team USA is set to host Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) finals on Tuesday night. Venezuela secured their spot with a comeback 4-2 win over Italy at Lone Depot Park, wrapping up a memorable journey during the tournament.
Italy, surprisingly, had a stellar run, previously defeating the USA in pool play and finishing Pool B with a perfect record of 4-0 after beating Mexico.
Despite Italy’s impressive performance, the win over Mexico allowed the USA to move on to the quarterfinals, where they overcame Canada and then clinched their final berth with a nail-biting 2-1 victory against the Dominican Republic on Sunday night.
As the game unfolded, it seemed almost fitting for the USA and Italy to meet again. However, Venezuela had different plans in a dramatic seventh inning. Trailing 2-1, they rallied with two outs; Jackson Chorio, a promising player from the Milwaukee Brewers, singled to center, helping Andres Jimenez get to third base.
Then, Ronald Acuña Jr., who represents the face of Venezuelan baseball, got an infield hit, allowing Jimenez to score and tie the game at 2-2. But the excitement didn’t stop there. Following Acuña’s hit, the Venezuelan team ignited, with Michael Garcia hitting another single that brought Chorio home. Luis Arraez then scored Acuña, turning the one-run deficit into a 4-2 lead.
Earlier in the game, Italy had taken a lead in the second inning when JJ D’Orazio connected for a home run, helping them score two runs. Eugenio Suarez hit a solo home run for Venezuela in the fourth, narrowing Italy’s lead; however, they couldn’t capitalize on it until the seventh inning.
Italy struggled to respond after that, with Daniel Palencia closing the game by striking out the last two batters in the ninth. While Venezuela celebrated their victory, Italy, despite the disappointment, had made quite a mark this month with their roster, blending established stars and emerging talents who received commendations during the tournament.
Now, Venezuela, rich in MLB talent, is gearing up to face Team USA, featuring starter Nolan McLean, who had faced Italy earlier in pool play. This match will decide who claims the title of the world’s best baseball team for the next three years.
The game is scheduled to begin at 8 PM ET and will be broadcast on FOX.
