Overview
- Venezuela eliminated defending champion Japan 8-5 behind Wilyer Abreu’s go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning and a shutdown bullpen that retired 13 straight.
- The quarterfinal opened with a first-of-its-kind pair of leadoff home runs by Ronald Acuña Jr. and Shohei Ohtani before Venezuela’s late surge sealed the upset.
- Italy advanced earlier with an 8-6 win over Puerto Rico, chasing Seth Lugo in the first and getting on base with all nine starters as Greg Weissert closed out a late rally.
- The semifinals are set in Miami: United States vs. Dominican Republic on Sunday (8 p.m. ET, FOX) and Venezuela vs. Italy on Monday (8 p.m. ET, FS1).
- USA manager Mark DeRosa called the USA–Dominican matchup “one of the best games of all time,” with Paul Skenes and Luis Severino reported as the expected starters, and Venezuela’s win also clinched a 2028 Los Angeles Olympic berth.