Venezuela Upsets Japan 8‑5, Secures 2028 Olympic Spot
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Venezuela defeated Japan 8‑5 in the WBC quarterfinals at LoanDepot Park, advancing to the semifinals and securing a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic baseball tournament.
- Ronald Acuña Jr. opened the scoring with a leadoff home run off Japan starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, contributing to Venezuela’s comeback.
- Maikel Garcia hit a two‑run homer in the fifth inning, extending Venezuela’s lead.
- Wilyer Abreu crushed a three‑run go‑ahead homer in the sixth off Hiromi Itoh, sparking the decisive comeback.
- Shohei Ohtani matched Acuña with a leadoff home run in the first inning and later homered again off Ranger Suarez before being intentionally walked, but did not score after Japan’s early lead.
- Ranger Suarez yielded five runs on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts in 2⅔ innings, after which a bullpen delivered 6⅓ scoreless innings.
- Keider Montero will start the semifinal against Italy, after left‑hander Jesus Luzardo declined the invitation to join the roster.
Why it matters: Venezuela’s victory propels the nation into its first WBC semifinal and guarantees a berth in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic baseball tournament, elevating its status among baseball powers; Japan, the defending champion, is eliminated for the first time, ending its unbeaten run.
Ask SkimNews
