Miami, FL – Venezuela staged a dramatic comeback against defending champions Japan in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals Saturday night, erasing a three-run deficit with back-to-back home runs to take a 7-5 lead into the late innings, leaving Japan in serious jeopardy of elimination.
It was a slugfest from the start at loanDepot Park in Miami, with home runs coming early and often. Japan, which had sailed through pool play undefeated, found itself fighting for its tournament life after Venezuela’s powerful offense ignited.
Early Exchanges and Japan's Surge
The game opened with immediate fireworks. Ronald Acuña Jr. wasted no time for Venezuela, launching a solo home run off Japan's starting pitcher, World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in the top of the first inning. But the lead didn't last long.
Japan's superstar Shohei Ohtani answered right back in the bottom of the first, crushing a solo shot off Venezuela's starter, Ranger Suarez, to tie the game at 1-1. Torres doubled in the second to drive in a run and put Venezuela back ahead 2-1.
Japan took over in the third. Sato doubled in a run to tie it, then Morishita crushed a three-run shot to make it 5-2. The defending champions appeared to be settling in, holding that advantage for a couple of innings.
Venezuela's Power Surge Flips the Script
Venezuela wouldn't go away, though, chipping at Japan's lead as the game went on. In the top of the fifth, Maikel Garcia stepped to the plate and hit a crucial two-run home run off Japan's relief pitcher C. Sumida. That trimmed Japan's lead to a single run, making it 5-4 and putting the pressure back on.
Everything changed in the sixth when Abreu smashed a three-run homer off Itoh with runners on base. That blast wiped out Japan's lead and put Venezuela up 7-5.
Japan's offense, which had put up five runs by the third, went completely silent after that. Japan hadn't scored since Morishita's homer in the third and couldn't answer Venezuela's surge. Japan now faced a two-run hole heading into the ninth with their tournament life on the line.
Quarterfinal Stakes and Semifinal Picture
This game meant everything for both teams' WBC dreams. Japan came in undefeated alongside the Dominican Republic and Italy, proving they were the class of their pool.
Venezuela came in at 3-1 and looked like a real threat. The winner moves to Monday's semifinals in Miami.
They'll join the US and Dominican Republic, who'd already locked up semifinal spots. Earlier Saturday, Italy pulled off an 8-6 victory over Puerto Rico in the day's other quarterfinal, also played in Houston, securing their place in the semifinals.
Japan had to come back from down two against a hot Venezuela team or go home.
