Mar 16, 2026, 11:00 PM ET
Venezuela is headed to its first World Baseball Classic final, where it will face the United States. A three-run seventh inning lifted Venezuela to a 4-2 victory over Italy on Monday, completing another come-from-behind win en route to the title game. Before 2026, Venezuela had reached the WBC semifinals only twice and had never won. The U.S., which beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 on Sunday, will return to its third straight WBC final seeking its first title since 2017.
Takeaways
Venezuela 4, Italy 2
Venezuela’s bullpen saved the day. Starter Keider Montero departed after 1⅓ innings, leaving the bullpen to record 23 outs. Six relievers combined to hold one of the tournament’s highest-scoring teams scoreless long enough for the offense’s three-run seventh to decide the game. — Jorge Castillo
A sold-out crowd of 35,382 at LoanDepot Park felt like a home field for Venezuela. Fans waved flags, banged drums and chanted for the team, reflecting Miami’s large Venezuelan community. In a period of political upheaval, the team has provided moments that transcend sport — unifying Venezuelans, reconnecting families, and delivering pure joy. That energy peaked in the top of the seventh, when Venezuela strung together four straight singles, erasing a one-run deficit and turning it into a two-run lead. — Alden Gonzalez
Italy’s run in the tournament was one of the WBC’s most charming stories. Largely composed of Italian Americans, the squad celebrated with espresso shots and kisses on the cheek, handed out bottles of wine to players of the game, and upset stronger baseball nations before meeting Venezuela. Italy’s dynamic offense ran into a dominant Venezuelan bullpen and saw its magical run end in Miami. The team should return in future classics, ideally with more support to develop homegrown talent over the long term. — Jeff Passan
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