Venezuela rallies past Italy 4-2, clinching their first-ever WBC final appearance. They face the U.S. Tuesday night for the championship title.
MIAMI, Fla. — Italy has been the darling feel-good story of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, but it's Venezuela that's going to the play for the gold medal on Tuesday night after knocking off the Italians 4-2 at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
Venezuela has a great baseball history, but forthe first time in the WBC’s 20-year history, Venezuela will play for a championship. They will take on the United States in Tuesday’s finale in Miami. To hear the players tell it, the scene afterward inside the home clubhouse resembled the boisterous parade of fans streaming toward the exits.
There's still more work to be done, of course, but the semifinal win over Italy was well worth celebrating.
“A lot of dancing,” said Venezuelan third baseman Maikel Garcia, who plays for the Kansas City Royals. “I’ve never been to the championship of the WBC before. We got there, and we’re happy. We’re excited to play (Tuesday) against the United States. We have to come and play the same way we played against Japan, against Italy. “We have to show the world who Venezuela is.”
Italy took an early 2-0 lead, but a fourth-inning solo home run from designated hitter Eugenio Suárez cut the deficit to 2-1. That was the only run allowed by talian starter Aaron Nola, the Philadelphia Phillies' standout.
Venezuela got to Italy's Michael Lorenzen in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to take the lead.
A walk and two-out single by Milwaukee Brewers star Jackson Chourio put runners at the corners, bringing up Ronald Acuna Jr. He hit a ground ball deep into the hole at short and and beat Sam Antonacci’s throw for an infield single to make it 2-2.
Garcia, who is Acuna’s cousin and childhood companion, followed with a go-ahead single and San Francisco Giants infielder Luis Arraez cushioned the lead with another single.
Venezuela's bullpen was phenomenal, not allowing a hit with five strikeouts over the final three innings. Eduard Bazardo, Andres Machado and Daniel Palencia slammed the door shut on the Italians, setting the stage for a big showdown with the U.S.
Game time is at 8 p.m. ET.
“I’m very happy to play the United States again,” Acuña said. “They are all superstars, but we have a great team as well. We are going to play our game. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”