Italy vs. Venezuela box score: Full stats from 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals
Italy vs. Venezuela box score: Full stats from 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
One half of the World Baseball Classic final is set, with the Americans advancing courtesy of a controversial 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic. On Monday night, they'll get their opponent. Italy takes on Venezuela on the other side of the WBC bracket, with both sides seeking their first-ever berth in the competition finale.
The Italians are the owners of a perfect record, besting all five of their foes to take up their spot in the penultimate game of tournament play. They're led by a handful of Italian-American standouts, including Royals star Vinnie Pasquantino, who mashed three homers to lead Italy past Mexico in its final pool play game. They'll get all they can handle out of Venezuela, one of the tournament's most star-laden sides.
Omar Lopez's side is specked with stardust, with Wilyer Abreu, Luis Arraez and former NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. all showing out en route to a 4-1 record. The Venezuelans posted the win of the tournament one round earlier, striking down defending champion Japan courtesy of a tape-measure Abreu home run.
Keider Montero will take the ball for Venezuela, while Aaron Nola is slated to stand on the perch for Italy. Both lineups are well-equipped to land blows on their adversaries. Montero and Nola will look to blight their dynamism.