Maikel Garcia hit a single in the seventh inning, breaking a tie for Venezuela. This helped them beat Italy 4-2 in Miami on Monday, securing their spot in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) championship game.
Venezuela scored three runs in the seventh inning with four straight two-out hits. They will now play the United States for the title on Tuesday night in Miami. The US team won their semifinal game against the Dominican Republic 2-1 on Sunday.
Venezuela Aims for First Title
Venezuela is looking to win its first WBC championship. The US team is hoping for their second title. Both teams had a 3-1 record in their pool play and then won their first two knockout games.
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Start Your News DetoxItaly had an impressive run, making it to the semifinals. They went 4-0 in pool B and then defeated Puerto Rico 8-6 in a quarterfinal game in Houston on Saturday. This loss was Italy's first of the WBC.
Italy took an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. JJ D’Orazio got a bases-loaded walk, and Dante Nori hit a groundout that scored a run. Italy was eight outs away from another upset when Venezuela started their comeback against pitcher Michael Lorenzen.
Gleyber Torres started the seventh inning with a walk. Lorenzen then struck out Wilyer Abreu and William Contreras. Venezuela then used a hit-and-run play, with Jackson Chourio singling to move pinch runner Andres Gimenez to third.
Ronald Acuna Jr hit a grounder, and Sam Antonacci picked it up but made a bad throw to first. Acuna was safe, and Gimenez scored.
Garcia then hit a single to left field, bringing Chourio home and giving Venezuela the lead. Luis Arraez followed with another single, scoring Acuna and adding an insurance run.
Angel Zerpa got the win by finishing the last two outs of the sixth inning. Eduard Bazardo and Andres Machado each pitched a perfect inning. Daniel Palencia earned his second save by striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Venezuela's starting pitcher, Keider Montero, gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Garcia and Torres both had two hits for Venezuela. Italy's starting pitcher, Aaron Nola, allowed one run in four innings. Zach Dezenzo had two hits for Italy.
