Venezuela defeats Italy to reach first World Baseball Classic final
Venezuela is headed to its first-ever World Baseball Classic final after rallying to defeat Italy 4-2 on Monday night at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Trailing early, Venezuela responded with timely hitting and a decisive seventh-inning surge to secure its place in the championship game, where it will face the United States.
The victory continues a historic run for Venezuela, which had already eliminated defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals and is now one win away from its first WBC title.
Seventh-inning rally changes the game
Italy carried a 2-0 lead into the middle innings, capitalizing on early control issues from Venezuela’s pitching staff.
But momentum shifted in the fourth inning when Eugenio Suárez launched a solo home run to cut the deficit in half and spark the comeback.
The decisive moment came in the seventh.
After Gleyber Torres reached base and Jackson Chourio extended the inning with a two-out hit, Venezuela’s lineup delivered under pressure.
Ronald Acuña Jr. tied the game with an infield single that brought home the tying run. Moments later, Maikel Garcia lined a go-ahead hit to left field, and Luis Arraez followed with another RBI single to extend the lead.
In a matter of minutes, Venezuela turned a deficit into full control of the game.
Bullpen holds firm under pressure
Venezuela’s pitching staff played a key role in closing out the win.
After allowing early runs, the bullpen stabilized the game and limited Italy to just five hits overall.
Ángel Zerpa delivered a critical moment in the sixth inning, escaping a bases-loaded jam to keep Venezuela within reach.
Closer Daniel Palencia sealed the victory in the ninth, striking out the final batter to send Venezuela to the final.
Italy’s historic run comes to an end
Italy entered the semifinal as one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
The European side had gone undefeated through the first rounds and became the first Italian team to reach the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic.
Known for its energy and unique celebrations, Italy built early momentum but was unable to hold off Venezuela’s late push.
Despite the loss, the tournament marked a breakthrough moment for Italian baseball on the international stage.
Final set: Venezuela vs United States
With the win, Venezuela advances to face the United States in the championship game.
Both teams arrive with identical 5-1 records, setting up a high-stakes final between two of the tournament’s most consistent teams.
The game will be played Tuesday night in Miami, where Venezuela will look to complete its historic run and capture its first World Baseball Classic title.
