Trea Turner powers USA over Venezuela to World Baseball Classic semifinal against Cuba

Trea Turner capped a 15-hit game by the American lineup with a dramatic eighth-inning and go-ahead grand slam to lead World No. 4 USA to a 9-7 win over No. 6 Venezuela in the fourth World Baseball Classic quarterfinal.

"Individually, I think this is probably the biggest hit I've had," said Turner postgame. "Today was electric, The energy is in the stadium, and we can feel it as players, and I know the fans feel it as well."

The United States will face No. 8 Cuba in the first semifinal on Sunday, 19 March. Two veterans will take the mound. World Series-winning 41-year-old right-hander Adam Wainwright will face 24-year-old Chicago Cubs lefty Roenis Elias.

It was not an easy night for starting pitchers. Venezuela's Martin Perez only got one out, allowing three runs on five hits. Venezuela got to Lance Lynn in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer by Luis Arraez.

Arraez would add a home run off reliever David Bednar in the bottom of the seventh.

Arraez's solo shot added to a four-run fifth, giving Venezuela a 7-5 lead heading into the eighth.

Left-handed reliever Jose Quijada, the fifth Venezuelan pitcher, walked Tim Anderson to lead off the inning. He then allowed a base hit to Pete Alonso and hit J.T. Realmuto to load the bases. Venezuela handed the ball to right-hander Silvino Bracho, who quickly got ahead of Trea Turner with a called strike and a foul ball. His third pitch was a changeup, and Turner was all over it.

The US used seven pitchers to move to the semifinals. Right-hander Devin Williams pitched a perfect eighth, and Houston Astros closer Ryan Pressly got the final three outs to save Bednar's win.

"It's one of the greatest games I've ever been part of," US manager Mark DeRosa commented. "Someone had to win, and someone had to lose. Trea Turner stepped up just with a 0-2 absolute bomb, Lynn battled through four innings, and we knew the bullpen was one of the strengths on our team."

"I've been part of Venezuelan Baseball and know their passion. I told the guys I wanted to match that," he added. "[When Turner hit the grand slam], I saw 35 guys, including the coaches, losing their minds. It was just an awesome moment."

"This is baseball, It's not easy, but we need to accept this and keep our heads up," said Venezuela's manager Omar Lopez. "I brought Silvino [Bracho] in because he was ready, and Alvarado was going to pitch the ninth. His pitch to Turner was high, but I decided long ago I would not judge a pitcher by one pitch. I've seen many hitters miss pitches that looked good to hit. It is baseball."

With USA taking on Cuba in the first semifinal on Sunday, the second semifinal is scheduled on Monday, 20 March, between World No. 1 Japan and No. 5 Mexico.