Venezuela rallies to beat Shohei Ohtani and defending champ Japan 8-5, advance to WBC semis
By Alanis Thames
Published on March 15, 2026.
Venezuela defeated Shohei Ohtani and Japan 8-5 in the World Baseball Classic, reaching its first WBC semis since 2009. Wilyer Abreu hit a three-run homer after Maikel Garcia sparked the comeback with a two-run shot. Venezuela clinched a spot in the six-nation field for the 2028 Olympic baseball tournament, along with the United States and the Dominican Republic. Despite Ohtor's third home run, Japan's 11-game WBC winning streak ended. Enmanuel De Jesus and Daniel Palencia secured the win for Venezuela.
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