MIAMI, FL — Venezuela delivered one of the most significant victories in its country’s baseball history Saturday night, defeating defending World Baseball Classic champion Japan 8–5 in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 WBC at loanDepot Park.
Powered by a dramatic three-run home run from Wilyer Abreu in the sixth inning and an early showcase of superstar swings between Ronald Acuña Jr. and Shohei Ohtani, Venezuela advanced to the tournament semifinals while ending Japan’s run as defending champions.
On the second pitch of the game, Acuña, winning the NL LatinoMVP Award in 2023, launched a towering home run off Japanese starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, sending a 106.2-mph blast 401 feet to give Venezuela a 1–0 lead.
Moments later, Ohtani responded in kind. The Japanese star crushed a 427-foot solo homer at 113.6 mph to tie the game and ignite the crowd in Miami.
Venezuela continued to pressure Yamamoto in the second inning. Ezequiel Tovar doubled sharply, and Gleyber Torres (2019 AL LatinoMVP) followed with an RBI double to give Venezuela a 2–1 advantage.
After an RBI double from Teruaki Sato tied the game, Shota Morishita delivered the biggest swing of the inning, smacking a three-run home run that gave Japan a 5–2 lead and momentarily shifted the momentum toward the defending champions.
A two-run homer from Maikel Garcia cut the deficit to one run, and the Venezuelan lineup continued to generate hard contact against Japanese pitching.
With two runners on base, Abreu drove a pitch from Hiromi Itoh deep into the stands for a three-run home run, giving Venezuela a 7–5 lead and sending the Venezuelan-heavy crowd into a frenzy.
“We have always been a powerhouse in baseball,” Venezuela manager Omar López said after the game. “Not because we beat Japan, we became a powerhouse. No way. We have always been one.”
Venezuela added an insurance run when Tovar scored on a throwing error during a pickoff attempt, extending the lead to 8–5.
From there, the Venezuelan bullpen took control.
Reliever Emanuel De Jesus delivered 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts to stabilize the game before a string of relievers—including Jose Buttó, Jose A. Zerpa, and Daniel Palencia—closed the door on Japan’s comeback attempt.
Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata acknowledged the challenge his pitchers faced against Venezuela’s lineup, stating, “they had a lot of hitters who are very strong against the fastball. Many Japanese pitchers had their fastballs hit hard in this game.”
Wilyer Abreu came up clutch for Venezuela in the country’s historic win over Japan Saturday night in the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinal Round – Image Credit: World Baseball Classic/Major League Baseball
Ibata also praised Ohtani’s immediate response to Acuña’s opening homer.
“After we gave up a run, he immediately hit the home run to tie the game,” Ibata noted.
“Moments like that remind you just how special he is.”
For Venezuela, the victory carried significance beyond the tournament itself.
López mentioned that the win was deeply meaningful for Venezuelans both at home and abroad.
“My country right now is celebrating,” he said. “They’re on the streets celebrating, and that makes me happier than anything in this world. If we can make our country happy for even a few days, that means everything.”
With the win, Venezuela advances to the semifinals and secures a historic qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
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