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MIAMI, FL - MARCH 07: Luis Arraez #2 of Team Venezuela celebrates after hitting an RBI double in the first inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game presented by Capital One between Team Israel and Team Venezuela at loanDepot park on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Kelly Gavin/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
New San Francisco Giants second baseman has read your (our) criticism of his lack of power and he decided to take it out on the beleaguered pitchers of Team Israel. Luis Arraez went 4-for-5 with four runs, five RBIs, two doubles and two big home runs as Venezuela defeated Israel Saturday night, 11-3. at loanDepot Park (It’s a lowercase “L” because the Marlins are the worst).
Arraez got scoring started in the first inning with an RBI double, a play that didn’t make new Giants center fielder Harrison Bader look great as he utilized what looked like a pilates move in his attempt to catch the line drive.
Arraez went deep for the first time in the bottom of the fifth off of New York Mets reliever Jordan Geber, he of 6.2 career major league innings pitched.
In the bottom of the sixth, Venezuela had a 7-2 lead and two runners on when Israel brought in left-handed reliever Ryan Kaminsky to shut down the Reggie Jackson of the World Baseball Classic. Arraez said “Nacht gut!” and sent 3-1 pitch over the right-field wall.
Arraez added another double in the eighth and came around to score. That almost capped the scoring, but Bader proved the Giants may have one of the most powerful lineups in the world by hitting a 397-foot home run in the top of the ninth.
Look, maybe Arraez has only hit 16 home runs in the last three seasons, when he hasn’t slugged over .400, despite winning a batting title in 2024. But if this tournament is any indication, Arraez is poised for a power breakthrough, as long as he can solely face marginal Israeli one-inning relievers.
Israel! Venenzuela! They’re all about power now, and not just the United States imperial overreach kind!
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