⚾ Today’s Edition
🇻🇪 Venezuela shocks Japan, ends historic streak
Wilyer Abreu’s go-ahead three-run homer powers Venezuela past undefeated Japan to reach the semifinals.
🇮🇹 Italy’s Cinderella run continues
Italy holds off a late Puerto Rico rally to reach the first WBC semifinal in program history.
🔥 Final Four is officially set
USA vs Dominican Republic and Italy vs Venezuela will decide who advances to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Final.
🎬 Must-See Moments
The best highlights and biggest plays from yesterday’s quarterfinal games.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic is down to its final four, and the semifinal matchups couldn’t be much better. Four powerhouse baseball nations remain, each bringing star-studded rosters, passionate fan bases, and a legitimate shot at the title.
🇺🇸 United States vs. 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
This is the heavyweight showdown many fans hoped for. Team USA features one of the deepest rosters in the tournament and will lean on Paul Skenes tonight as he takes the mound. The Dominican Republic counters with one of the most explosive lineups in the tournament, led by Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr.. Cancel whatever you are doing and make sure to tune in tonight because every inning will feel like October baseball. The game starts at 8pm ET tonight on FS1.
🇮🇹 Italy vs. 🇻🇪 Venezuela
Italy has been the Cinderella story of the tournament. Powered by timely offense and shutdown bullpen work, the Italians shocked Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals for the first time in WBC history. Vinnie Pasquantino has been a breakout star for Italy the last 2 games and is heating up at the right time. Standing in their way is Venezuela, a loaded roster featuring Ronald Acuña Jr. and José Altuve, who have helped power one of the most dangerous offenses in the Classic. This game will be played on Monday with the WBC Finals scheduled for Tuesday.
Who do you think will win the 2026 WBC?
Game Highlights
🇻🇪 Venezuela 8, 🇯🇵 Japan 5 — Venezuela stuns Japan, reaches WBC semifinals
Venezuela pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, defeating three-time champion Japan 8–5 to advance to the semifinals for the first time in 17 years and end Japan’s 11-game WBC winning streak.
🔑 Key Moments
Ronald Acuña Jr. opens the game with a leadoff homer — Acuña crushed the second pitch from Yoshinobu Yamamoto to instantly give Venezuela a 1–0 lead and spark an electric start.
Shohei Ohtani answers immediately — Ohtani responded with a home run of his own in the bottom of the first to tie the game 1–1.
Shota Morishita’s three-run homer — After replacing the injured Seiya Suzuki, Morishita launched a 388-foot shot in the fourth to give Japan a 5–2 lead.
Maikel Garcia’s two-run blast swings momentum — Garcia homered in the fifth inning to pull Venezuela within one run at 5–4.
Wilyer Abreu delivers the knockout — Abreu smashed a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth and unleashed a massive bat flip that ignited the Miami crowd.
Venezuela bullpen shuts the door — The bullpen combined for 6⅓ scoreless innings to secure the upset victory.
📊 Notable Stats
Venezuela
Wilyer Abreu: 3-run HR (go-ahead blast in 6th)
Maikel Garcia: 2-run HR
Ronald Acuña Jr.: Leadoff HR
Japan
Shohei Ohtani: Solo HR
Shota Morishita: 3-run HR
Teruaki Sato: RBI double
🇮🇹 Italy 8, 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico 6 — Italy holds off late rally, advances to first WBC semifinal
Italy continued its surprising World Baseball Classic run, defeating Puerto Rico 8–6 in the quarterfinals to reach the semifinals for the first time in tournament history.
🔑 Key Moments
Willi Castro strikes first — Castro launched a leadoff home run in the first inning to give Puerto Rico an early 1–0 lead.
Italy explodes for four in the first — RBI singles from Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, and Dominic Canzone helped Italy quickly take a 4–1 advantage.
Back-to-back doubles extend the lead — Andrew Fischer and J.J. D’Orazio each ripped two-run doubles in the fourth inning to push Italy ahead 8–2.
Dylan DeLucia dominates in relief — DeLucia delivered four shutout innings, stabilizing the bullpen and holding Puerto Rico scoreless from the third through the seventh.
Puerto Rico rallies in the eighth — Christian Vázquez’s two-run single capped a four-run inning that cut the deficit to 8–6.
Greg Weissert shuts the door — Weissert recorded the final outs in the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the win.
📊 Notable Stats
Italy
Dylan DeLucia: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 3 K
Andrew Fischer: 2-run double
J.J. D’Orazio: 2-run double
Puerto Rico
Willi Castro: Leadoff HR
Christian Vázquez: 2-run single in 8th
💥 Must-See Moments
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