Shohei Ohtani stepped up to the plate as expected.
In a thrilling moment during the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, the Japanese sensation launched a leadoff home run, instantly electrifying the crowd at LoanDepot Park. It looked like the makings of another Ohtani highlight moment.
However, this night belonged to Venezuela.
Venezuela surged past the defending champions, Japan, with an 8-5 victory, marking their first-ever advancement to the WBC semifinals and securing a place in the upcoming Olympic baseball tournament in Los Angeles.
“It was a game filled with chances… We displayed our strengths, but in the end, they overpowered us,” Ohtani remarked, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
This evening turned historic.
Ohtani’s powerful blast initially tied the game, and Japan gained a brief lead when Shota Morishita hit a three-run homer in the third, making it 5-2.
But then Venezuela’s lineup pivoted the momentum.
Ronald Acuña Jr. kicked off their scoring with a leadoff homer. In the fifth, Maikel Garcia added a two-run shot, and Wilyer Abreu delivered the defining blow—hitting a three-run homer in the sixth that sent the pro-Venezuela crowd into a frenzy.
From that point, Venezuela’s bullpen secured the game.
Six relievers combined for six scoreless innings, keeping Japan’s hitters at bay. Ohtani was intentionally walked once, struck out twice, and flew out in the ninth to conclude the game.
“It’s truly frustrating,” Ohtani stated. “We had opportunities to win. We weren’t completely overmatched throughout the game. There were moments where we could have taken control.”
Three years earlier, Ohtani struck out Mike Trout to clinch the WBC title.
This time, Venezuela had the final say.
With this victory, Venezuela progresses to the semifinals to face Italy on Monday and officially clinches their spot in Olympic baseball for the first time.
“We’re a world power,” manager Omar López declared.
