We had another great game today and this time, there was no controversy.
Italy took an early lead, but Venezuela rallied with a three-run seventh inning to end Italy’s magical run in the World Baseball Classic.
Italy actually broke out to an early lead when Tigers pitcher Keider Montero struggled to throw strikes. Astros outfielder Zach Dezenzo singled with one out and then Montero walked Jac Caglianone, Brewers minor leaguer Andrew Fischer and the Angels’ J.J. D’Orazio in a row,
forcing in the first run of the game. Phillies minor leaguer Dante Nori grounded into a fielder’s choice to make it 2-0 Italy in the second.
Meanwhile, Aaron Nola kept the powerful Venezuelan lineup scoreless for three innings. He got some help in the first inning with when Jakob Marsee made a nice catch in center field and doubled up Maikel Garcia at first base.[VIDEO]
You can’t tell from that video but Italy shortstop Sam Antonacci deked out Garcia with a dive at second base.
That’s the second time this tournament that Antonacci successfully pulled off that move.
But with one out in the fourth inning, Eugenio Suárez got Venezuela on the board with this solo home run. [VIDEO]
Italy threatened to blow the game open in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with two outs. But Brewers pitcher Angel Zerpa struck out Antonacci looking to end the threat. [VIDEO]
Italy manager Francisco Cervelli’s strategy in this game was to get through as much of the game as possible by piggybacking his two best pitchers, Nola and Michael Lorenzen. The strategy looked brilliant as Nola allowed just one run on four hits over four innings. Lorenzen kept the Venezuelans from scoring in the fifth and sixth innings, allowing just one walk. But Lorenzen walked Gleyber Torres to lead off the seventh, That looked like no big deal as he then struck out Wilyer Abreu and William Contreras.
But with a man on first and two outs, Lorenzen allowed four straight singles. First, number-nine hitter Jackson Chourio singled to center. Returning to the top of the order, Ronald Acuña Jr. tied the game 2-2 by beating out an infield single. [VIDEO]
Next, Maikel Garcia singled home Churio to give Venezuela a 3-2 lead. [VIDEO]
Finally, Luis Arraez connected for the fourth-straight single to make it 4-2. [VIDEO]
Cervelli pulled Lorenzen for reliever Kyle Nicolas after the Arraez single, but by then it was too late.
Neither side managed another baserunner after the Arraez RBI single. Daniel Palencia came on to collect the save for Venezuela and he struck out Antonacci to the end the game. [VIDEO]
It’s the first ever trip to the World Baseball Classic finals for Team Venezuela. Team Italy has nothing to be ashamed of, putting on a near-miraculous run and electrifying a country that was discovering baseball for the first time in some cases. Even their only loss was a narrow one to a very good Venezuela team.
Tonight’s final between Venezuela and USA is at 7 p.m. CT at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Nolan McLean is scheduled to start for the Americans and Eduardo Rodríguez is penciled in for Venezuela. We will, of course, have a game thread here this evening for the title game.
