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Team Venezuela has never previously made it this far.
Until this sixth iteration of the World Baseball Classic, Venezuela hadn’t played in a semifinal game until 2009, its first.
But here they are, underdogs again, as they face Team USA – the favorites entering this tourney – in Tuesday night’s final at Miami.
To reach the semifinals against Team Italy, Venezuela had to knock off the reigning WBC champs.
Team Japan was on course for a WBC final rematch against Team USA until last Saturday, when Venezuela rallied from a 5-2 deficit to win, 8-5.
Shohei Ohtani hit his third homer of this WBC in that game, leading off the first inning, but Wilyer Abreu’s three-run homer in the sixth boosted Team Venezuela toward victory.
Team Venezuela contains several MLB stars, led by Atlanta Braves’ 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr.
The roster includes lefty Ranger Suarez (Red Sox), third baseman Eugenio Suarez (Reds), first baseman Willson Contreras (Red Sox), infielder Luis Arraez (Giants), shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (Rockies), outfielder Jackson Chourio (Brewers) and ex-Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres (Tigers).
Standout ex-big leaguers dot manager Omar Lopez’s staff, including Miguel Cabrera (hitting coach), Johan Santana (pitching coach) and Victor Martinez (assistant manager).
Since 2024, Lopez, 49, has served as the Houston Astros’ bench coach for manager Joe Espada.
A former minor league infielder in the Chicago White Sox’s and Arizona Diamondbacks’ systems, Lopez previously managed for 11 seasons in the Astros’ organization.
As Team Venezuela’s manager in the 2023 WBC, Lopez led his team to a 4-0 record – including a win over the Dominican Republic – before falling, 9-7, in the quarterfinal vs. Team USA.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Team USA vs Venezuela: World Baseball Classic final preview
Continue reading...
Until this sixth iteration of the World Baseball Classic, Venezuela hadn’t played in a semifinal game until 2009, its first.
But here they are, underdogs again, as they face Team USA – the favorites entering this tourney – in Tuesday night’s final at Miami.
Venezuela slayed a giant
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To reach the semifinals against Team Italy, Venezuela had to knock off the reigning WBC champs.
Team Japan was on course for a WBC final rematch against Team USA until last Saturday, when Venezuela rallied from a 5-2 deficit to win, 8-5.
Shohei Ohtani hit his third homer of this WBC in that game, leading off the first inning, but Wilyer Abreu’s three-run homer in the sixth boosted Team Venezuela toward victory.
Familiar MLB faces
Team Venezuela contains several MLB stars, led by Atlanta Braves’ 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr.
The roster includes lefty Ranger Suarez (Red Sox), third baseman Eugenio Suarez (Reds), first baseman Willson Contreras (Red Sox), infielder Luis Arraez (Giants), shortstop Ezequiel Tovar (Rockies), outfielder Jackson Chourio (Brewers) and ex-Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres (Tigers).
Standout ex-big leaguers dot manager Omar Lopez’s staff, including Miguel Cabrera (hitting coach), Johan Santana (pitching coach) and Victor Martinez (assistant manager).
A manager with a WBC track record
Since 2024, Lopez, 49, has served as the Houston Astros’ bench coach for manager Joe Espada.
A former minor league infielder in the Chicago White Sox’s and Arizona Diamondbacks’ systems, Lopez previously managed for 11 seasons in the Astros’ organization.
As Team Venezuela’s manager in the 2023 WBC, Lopez led his team to a 4-0 record – including a win over the Dominican Republic – before falling, 9-7, in the quarterfinal vs. Team USA.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Team USA vs Venezuela: World Baseball Classic final preview
Continue reading...
