Venezuela Reaches WBC Final, Defeats Italy 4-2

MIAMI — For the first time in its World Baseball Classic history, Venezuela is heading to the championship game. A three-run seventh inning propelled Venezuela to a 4-2 victory over Italy on Monday night at loanDepot Park, setting up a highly anticipated clash with Team USA on Tuesday.

Italy’s Strategy Falls Short

Italy manager Francisco Cervelli opted for a unique pitching strategy, starting Aaron Nola and then transitioning to Michael Lorenzen. The hope was to conserve bullpen arms for a potential championship game appearance, a risky proposition if they were able to advance. For six innings, the strategy worked remarkably well. Venezuela managed only a solo home run from Eugenio Suárez, a familiar sight for those who follow the veteran slugger.

Seventh-Inning Surge Seals the Win

The seventh inning proved to be the turning point. A leadoff walk to Gleyber Torres ignited the rally. Despite striking out the next two batters, Lorenzen couldn’t contain the Venezuelan offense. A perfectly executed hit-and-run single by Jackson Chourio put runners at first and third. Ronald Acuña Jr. Then reached on an infield single, unable to be handled by shortstop Sam Antonacci, tying the game. Maikel Garcia followed with a go-ahead single, and Luis Arraez added another single to extend the lead to 4-2.

Dominant Bullpen Performance

Venezuela’s bullpen was instrumental in securing the victory. Starter Keider Montero struggled, issuing three consecutive walks in the third inning, leading to two Italian runs. However, six relievers – Ricardo Sánchez, Luinder Avila, Angel Zerpa, Eduard Bazardo, Andrés Machado, and Daniel Palencia – combined to shut down the Italian offense, allowing only three hits over 7 ⅔ innings. This performance was crucial, as Italy had been one of the tournament’s most potent offensive teams.

Championship Matchup: Venezuela vs. USA

The championship game promises to be a compelling contest. Venezuela boasts a formidable lineup led by Acuña, Garcia, and Arraez, with Suárez providing power in the cleanup spot. The depth of their lineup is evident in the fact that William Contreras hits eighth, Jackson Chourio bats ninth, and Willson Contreras is a bench player. Even Salvador Perez wasn’t in the lineup on Monday.

USA’s Pitching Plans

Team USA will send Nolan McLean to the mound. While McLean has limited MLB starting experience with only eight career starts, he has been dominant in those outings. He will face a tough Venezuelan lineup.

Venezuela Counters with Eduardo Rodríguez

Venezuela will counter with Eduardo Rodríguez. The USA lineup is stacked with power hitters, including Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and Kyle Schwarber. Cal Raleigh, who hit 60 home runs last season, bats sixth or seventh, and Pete Crow-Armstrong, a 30-30 threat, hits ninth. The USA bench is equally impressive.

Rodríguez, a capable MLB pitcher who once finished sixth in Cy Young voting, has struggled in recent seasons, posting an ERA above 5.00 in the last two years. However, he has World Series experience (2018 with the Boston Red Sox), and the magnitude of the moment shouldn’t be a factor. The USA lineup has been contained by pitchers one wouldn’t expect, such as Lorenzen in pool play, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the tournament.

Bullpen Advantage for Team USA

A potential disadvantage for Venezuela lies in the bullpen situation. Due to tournament rules, Team USA, having played on Sunday and having Monday off, enjoys a pitching advantage. All USA pitchers are eligible to pitch, while Venezuela will be limited by back-to-back game restrictions. This could prove to be a significant factor in the outcome of the championship game.