Venezuela kept the bracket moving.
Italy came in as the last undefeated team in the tournament, and for most of the night it looked like that run might hold. Venezuela trailed 2 to 0, then turned the game in the seventh with two outs. Ronald Acuña Jr. tied it. Maikel Garcia pushed them ahead. Luis Arráez added insurance. A game Italy had controlled for six innings was suddenly gone, and Venezuela had a 4 to 2 win and its first trip to the WBC final.
Italy did not get blown out. They held the game where they wanted it for most of the night and looked capable of dragging it somewhere uncomfortable. Then Venezuela kept pressing until the margin disappeared. Italy’s unbeaten run ended there, not early, but all at once.
Now the final gets tighter. Team USA will hand the ball to Nolan McLean, and he is expected to be on a limited pitch count, which means the American bullpen is part of the game almost immediately. That is a brutal ask for Venezuela because the U.S. lineup gives opposing pitching almost no reprieve. There is no soft pocket to reset against, and not much room to lose the zone for even one inning. The United States is chasing a second WBC title. Venezuela is chasing its first.
