In a stunning reversal at the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, Venezuela mounted a dramatic comeback to defeat Shohei Ohtani’s Japan 8-5 on Saturday night, snapping Japan’s 11-game tournament winning streak and advancing to the semifinals for the first time since 2009.
The game featured explosive offense from both sides, with Japan building an early 5-2 lead through a four-run third inning highlighted by Shota Morishita’s tiebreaking three-run homer off Venezuelan starter Ranger Suárez. Ohtani, the 2023 WBC MVP, contributed to Japan’s offense with a massive 427-foot solo shot to center field in the first inning—his third home run of the tournament.
Venezuela’s comeback began in the fifth inning when Maikel Garcia ignited the rally with a two-run homer against Japanese pitcher Chihiro Sumida, narrowing the deficit to 5-4. The game completely turned in the sixth inning when Wilyer Abreu delivered the decisive blow—a 409-foot, three-run homer on Hiromi Itoh’s 2-1 fastball that gave Venezuela a permanent lead at 7-5.
Venezuela added an insurance run in the eighth when Ezequiel Tovar doubled and subsequently scored on a throwing error by Japanese reliever Atsuki Taneichi during a pickoff attempt.
The victory secured Venezuela not only a semifinal berth against unbeaten Italy on Monday but also clinched their qualification for the six-nation baseball tournament at the 2028 Olympics, joining the United States and Dominican Republic.
Venezuela’s bullpen proved instrumental in preserving the lead, with Enmanuel De Jesus earning the win after pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings, and Daniel Palencia securing the save by getting Ohtani to pop out for the final out.