Darvish's Grand Slam Fails in Heartbreaking Venezuelan Showdown
Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out 5 in 4 innings and left with a lead, but Venezuela scored 6 off Japan’s bullpen
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 14: Ezequiel Tovar #14 of Team Venezuela reacts after hitting a double in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team Japan at loanDepot park on Saturday, March 14, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images For the first time in the history of the World Baseball Classic, Japan won’t be in the semifinals. They were out-slugged by Venezuela 8-5 on Saturday night at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Venezuela is into the semifinals of the WBC for the first time since 2009, and with the win clinched a berth into the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Maikel Garcia hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning, and Wilyer Abreu hit the go-ahead three-run shot in the sixth to give Venezuela the lead for good. Of the 17 total hits in the game, 10 were for extra bases, including five home runs.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto struggled at the start, needing 57 pitches to record his first nine outs. Ronald Acuña Jr. hit the second pitch of the night out for a leadoff home run, but Shohei Ohtani answered the call in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff blast of his own.
OH MY GOODNESS 😳 SHOHEI OHTANI HAS TIED THIS GAME 🔥 pic. twitter. com/YFaWua02wC — World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 15, 2026 Sarah Langs at MLB.