Venezuela ousts Italy, advances to first World Baseball Classic finale
· Yahoo Sports
March 17 (UPI) -- Ronald Acuna Jr. sparked a seventh-inning, two-out rally for a comeback win over Italy, leading the Venezuelans to their first World Baseball Classic finale.
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Venezuela trailed 2-1 after six innings, but crossed the plate three times in the seventh frame of the 4-2 triumph Monday in Miami. The loss was Italy's first of the tournament.
Acuna and the Venezuelans will battle Team USA in the World Baseball Classic finale Tuesday on the same field at loanDepot park.
"We have to come tomorrow and play the same way we played against Japan, the same way we played against Italy," Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia told reporters. "We have to show the world who Venezuela is."
The Italians got to Detroit Tigers starter Keider Montero early. Houston Astros infielder Zach Dezenzo singled in the second at-bat of the bottom of the second. Montero then issued consecutive walks to Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone, infielder Andrew Fischer and catcher J.J. D'Orazio, prompting Dezenzo to cross the plate.
Venezuela designated hitter Eugenio Suárez celebrates a home run during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal against Italy on Monday at loanDepot park in Miami. Photo by Michael Laughlin/UPIOutfielder Dante Nori brought in a second run when he grounded into a force out off relief pitcher Ricardo Sanchez in the next at-bat, but the Italians didn't score again.
The Venezuelan bullpen allowed just three hits and no runs, with two walks and eight strikeouts, over the final 7 2/3 innings.
Venezuela first baseman Luis Arraez fields a ball hit by Italy's Jakob Marsee during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal against Italy on Monday at loanDepot park in Miami. Photo by Michael Laughlin/UPICincinnati Reds slugger Eugenio Suarez marred Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola's start when he cut the deficit in half with a 386-foot solo homer in the fourth.
Italy's Michael Lorenzen walked Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres to start the seventh. He then issued consecutive strikeouts to Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu and Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras. Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio singled in the next exchange, bringing Acuna to the plate.
Venezuela's Andrés Giménez (0) celebrates scoring a run with teammate Willson Contreras during the seventh inning of a World Baseball Classic semifinal against Italy on Monday at loanDepot park in Miami. Photo by Michael Laughlin/UPIThe Braves hit a grounder to shortstop Sam Antonacci, but beat his throw to first base. Toronto Blue Jays infielder Andres Gimenez, a pinch runner for Torres, scored on the play to tie the game at 2-2.
Garcia plated Chourio with another single just three pitches later. San Francisco Giants infielder Luis Arraez brought in the game's final run with another single off Lorenzen in the next at-bat.
Venezuela pitcher Jose Butto (C) and teammates celebrate beating Italy in a World Baseball Classic semifinal Monday at loanDepot park in Miami. Photo by Michael Laughlin/UPIGarcia and Torres collected two hits apiece. Torres went 2 for 2 with a walk. Acuna went 1 for 5 with an RBI and run scored for the Venezuelans. Nola allowed four hits and one run over four innings.
Dezenzo went 2 for 4 with a run scored for the Italians.
"We always stayed on the same page, and I think that's what carried us into the final," Acuna said.
The Venezuelans will take on the Americans in the World Baseball Classic finale at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Miami. The matchup will air on Fox.