Venezuela Upsets Defending Champion Japan, Returns to Classic Semifinals After 17 Years

The defending champion Samurai Japan has been eliminated from the World Baseball Classic. In today's quarterfinal at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Venezuela rallied to defeat the 2023 Classic champion Japan 8-5, securing their advancement.

Wilyer Abreu blasted a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning off Japan's newly crowned Sawamura Award winner Hiromi Itoh. Daniel Palencia sealed the victory by inducing Shohei Ohtani to pop out on an infield fly, sending Venezuela into the semifinals where they will face Italy.

After hitting this home run that soared into the upper deck, Abreu exited the batter's box with clenched fists, then flung his bat high into the air. The Red Sox outfielder continued celebrating nonstop throughout his trip around the bases.

Venezuela will face Italy on Tuesday in Miami. This marks Venezuela's first appearance in the Classic semifinals since 2009, which also represents their best historical performance in the WBC, having lost to South Korea in the semifinals that year.

Japan's journey toward the 2026 Classic has now ended. After the game, while Venezuela celebrated in the dugout, the Samurai Japan players lined up along the third-base line and bowed to the fans in Miami.

Today's game began in an electrifying fashion, with superstars Ronald Acuña Jr. and Shohei Ohtani each hitting first-pitch, first-inning home runs for Venezuela and Japan respectively.

Acuña Jr. ignited the passion of Venezuelan fans on-site with his signature "Beast" celebration while circling the bases after homering to right-center field off 2025 World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But Ohtani immediately responded, equalizing for Japan with a right-center field homer that had an exit velocity of 114 mph, accompanied by a bat flip.

This pair of first-pitch, first-inning home runs made history, as both Acuña Jr. and Ohtani are MLB MVP winners. In MLB history, there has never been a game where two MVP-winning players hit first-pitch, first-inning home runs in the same contest.

Although Yamamoto later stabilized for Japan, pitching four innings allowing only two runs with five strikeouts, Japan launched a fierce attack in the fourth inning against Ranger Suárez, knocking him out of the game. After intentionally walking Ohtani, the reigning Central League MVP Teruaki Sato hit a crucial tying double along the right-field line. Subsequently, Shota Morishita, who replaced Cubs star Seiya Suzuki who injured his right knee during a first-inning stolen base attempt, added a three-run homer.

But Venezuela retaliated against Japan's bullpen in the fifth inning, with Royals All-Star Maikel Garcia hitting a two-run homer off Chihiro Sumida, narrowing the deficit to one run and setting the stage for Abreu's go-ahead blast.