![\"Baseball:](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/28518147.jpg\")
Mar 16, 2026; Miami, FL, United States; Venezuela outfielder Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. (21) reacts after sliding into third base in the seventh inning against Venezuela during a semifinal game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nMaikel Garcia hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning for Team Venezuela, which advanced to the World Baseball Classic championship game by beating Team Italy 4-2 on Monday in Miami.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Venezuela, which pieced together four straight two-out hits in a three-run seventh, will play the United States for the title Tuesday night in Miami. The United States beat the Dominican Republic 2-1 on Sunday in the first semifinal.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Venezuela is seeking its first championship while the United States is aiming for its second crown. Both teams went 3-1 in pool play before winning their first two games in the knockout rounds.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The loss was the first of the WBC for Italy, which made a Cinderella run to the semifinals by going 4-0 in Pool B play before beating Puerto Rico 8-6 in a quarterfinal at Houston on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Italy, which took a 2-0 lead in the second when J.J. D’Orazio drew a bases-loaded walk and Dante Nori hit into a run-scoring groundout, was eight outs away from another upset when Venezuela rallied against losing pitcher Michael Lorenzen.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Gleyber Torres worked a leadoff walk in the seventh before Lorenzen whiffed Wilyer Abreu and William Contreras. Venezuela pulled off a hit-and-run in which Jackson Chourio singled pinch runner Andres Gimenez to third.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n Ronald Acuna Jr. followed with a grounder to the third base side of short, where Sam Antonacci picked the ball cleanly but bounced the throw to first as Acuna Jr. arrived safely and Torres scored.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Garcia delivered the go-ahead single to left, scoring Chourio, before Luis Arraez provided insurance by singling home Acuna.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Angel Zerpa earned the win by getting got the final two outs of the sixth. Eduard Bazardo and Andres Machado threw a perfect inning apiece before Daniel Palencia earned his second save by striking out two in a 1-2-3 ninth.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Venezuela starting pitcher Keider Montero gave up the two runs in 1 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Garcia and Torres had two hits apiece for Venezuela.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n