In a thrilling quarterfinal clash at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, defending champions Team Japan were ousted by Venezuela, who secured an 8-5 victory. The hero of the night? Boston Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu, whose clutch performance at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, propelled Venezuela to their first-ever semifinal appearance in WBC history.
Abreu's defining moment came with a monumental three-run blast that turned the tide for Venezuela. Reflecting on the pivotal at-bat, Abreu shared his mindset during a post-game interview with Fox Sports.
Initially aiming for a sac fly to tie the game, he made a slight adjustment after fouling off a pitch. "That was an exciting moment," he recounted.
"I just tried to at least tie the game with a sac fly. He gave me a really good pitch to hit.
I made good contact, and the ball flies."
His determination paid off as he crushed a pitch he couldn't afford to miss twice. The home run not only put Venezuela ahead but also sent the partisan crowd into a frenzy, with teammates pouring out of the dugout to celebrate.
"When I was running the bases, I can't describe that feeling… that's unforgettable," Abreu told MLB Network, capturing the emotion of the moment.
The game itself was a back-and-forth battle. Venezuela grabbed an early lead with Ronald Acuña Jr.'s leadoff home run, only for Japan's Shohei to respond in kind.
Japan then surged ahead by three runs, but Maikel Garcia's efforts narrowed the gap in the fifth inning. With Japan holding a 5-4 advantage, Abreu's sixth-inning homer into the right-field stands turned the game on its head, giving Venezuela a two-run lead.
They later added an insurance run in the eighth to seal their historic win.
Now, Venezuela sets its sights on Team Italy, with the semifinal showdown set for Monday at the same venue. Fans can expect more excitement as the tournament continues to deliver unforgettable moments.