Venezuela advances to quarterfinals undefeated. World Baseball Classic Group C and D play final games
The World Baseball Classic 2023 will complete today the quarterfinals schedule, with the final games in Groups C and D. World No. 6 Venezuela, which has already secured first place in Group D, defeated No. 20 Israel, 5-1, and advanced undefeated to the next stage.
World Baseball Classic Day 8 results
Mexico-Canada PLAY BY PLAY USA-Colombia BOX SCORE Venezuela-Israel BOX SCORE Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic BOX SCORE
Group D
Venezuela completed group-play with a perfect 4-0 record and advanced to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals as winners of Group D. The South Americas completed the swept of the group today with a 5-1 victory against Israel.
Ronald Acuña Jr and Eugenio Suarez gave Venezuela a 3-0 early lead with a pair of RBI singles in the top of the first inning.
The Vinotinto team used the long ball to add two more runs in the scoreboard. In the fourth, Eduardo Escobar went deep to the center field for a solo home run, and two innings later Suarez homered himself to collect his third RBI of the game.
“The secret of this team is to put the ball in play and not trying to do too much,” said Escobar. “We try to play our game, to do the little things and just play.”
Lefty Jesus Luzardo earned the win in four innings of work, delivering five strikeouts while giving up a walk and four hits.
Israel's only run of the game was scored in the bottom of the seventh, when Jakob Goldfarb plated Noah Mendlinger with an RBI single.
Venezuela will play the quarterfinals on Friday, against the second place finisher of Group C, which is still to be known. The game will be played at loanDepot Park in Miami, at 19:00 US Eastern Time.
“We need to be ready. We’ll see which team we’re faceing tomorrow and we’ll start getting ready,” said Venezuela’s skipper, Omar Lopez. “We have the scouting report of every team, so once we meet with my coaches we’ll start thinking the plan of the game.”
Israel ended in fourth place in Group D and secured his presence in the World Baseball Classic 2026