Venezuela's team made a historic milestone on Monday by reaching the final of the World Baseball Classic for the first time in its rich history, defeating Italy 4-2 to advance to face the United States. The semifinal was played at LoanDepot Park in Miami. The Italian team, managed by Francesco Cervelli, sought to continue its giant-slaying run in this classic and surprise the experienced Venezuelans by taking the lead in the bottom of the second inning. A hit from catcher J.J. D'Orazio, of Venezuelan origin, allowed Zach Dezenzo, a left fielder for the Houston Astros, to score the game's first run. Venezuela's path to the final began with a second-place finish in Group D after wins over the Netherlands (6-2), Israel (11-3), and Nicaragua (4-0), and a loss to the Dominican Republic (7-5). The 'vinotintos' then defeated the powerful Japan of Shohei Ohtani 8-5 in the quarterfinals and on Monday dealt with the surprising Italy (which had eliminated Puerto Rico 8-6 in the quarters) with a decisive 4-2 victory. The United States, managed by Mark DeRosa, on Sunday hit two home runs by Gunnar Henderson and Roman Anthony in the fourth inning to defeat the Dominican Republic 2-1 and advance to the final for the third consecutive time. The U.S. team fell to Japan in the 2023 final (3-2) and crushed Puerto Rico 8-0 in the 2017 final. Venezuela's second run came in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run by Eugenio Suárez. However, the Venezuelans did not stay quiet and taught a lesson to the novice Italian semifinalists with a three-run rally in the top of the seventh. Ronald Acuña Jr., Jackson Chourio, and Andrés Giménez turned the tide in favor of the 'vinotintos' and ignited Venezuelan joy in Miami. They held the Italians scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings, and the score did not change again. The final of the World Baseball Classic between the host U.S. team and Venezuela will be played on March 17 at the same LoanDepot Park in Florida.
