Trea Turner Grand Slam Sends USA To WBC Semifinals
Via MLB/Team USA
We witnessed quite the classic in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday.
With the United States down to their last six outs in the WBC, Mark DeRosa’s squad found a way to come back after leading by three runs multiple times in the game. Down 7-5 in the top of the eighth, Trea Turner crushed a bases loaded grand slam to left field that ended up giving Team USA a 9-7 victory over previously unbeaten Venezuela at loanDepot Park in Miami.
TVT GRAND SALAMI pic.twitter.com/VbD5no6E2X
— USA Baseball (@USABaseball) March 19, 2023
Team USA got off to a hot start in the top of the first against Martin Pérez. Mookie Betts led off the game with a base hit and he would come across to score thanks to a bloop single by Mike Trout and a throwing error by Ronald Acuña Jr. Singles by Paul Goldschmidt and Kyle Tucker in the first inning gave the United States a 3-0 lead and ended Perez’s night early (1/3 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 11 of 16 pitches for strikes).
Venezuela would answer back in the bottom of the inning against Lance Lynn. Jose Altuve had a leadoff single and he came around to score on a two-run home run by Luis Arraez. The current Marlin hit his first home run of the WBC in his now home ballpark to cut the lead to 3-2.
Lynn would hold the Venezuela lineup to just the two-run home run. He went four innings, allowed two runs on four hits, walked a batter, and struck out two on 58 pitches (38 strikes).
In the top of the fifth, with the USA up 4-2 (Betts sac fly in the fourth), Tucker hit a solo home run to right to extend the lead to 5-2. However, the lead would end up disappearing by the end of the inning:
KING TUCK
Kyle Tucker homers off Luis Garcia to give Team USA a 5-2 lead!
: WBC on FOX pic.twitter.com/WbwLzg6Jjy
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 19, 2023
Daniel Bard entered the game for Lynn and was unable to record an out. Gleyber Torres drew a walk, Andrés Giménez had an infield single, and Altuve was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Altuve ended up leaving the game with a hand injury. While no official update has been given, it does not sound like good news at all:
Altuve being evaluated for injury to right hand. Astros will provide update tomorrow.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 19, 2023
As I just reported on broadcast, initial concern with Jose Altuve is that he has a broken right thumb. Not
confirmed at this point. Astros will provide more information tomorrow.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 19, 2023
Bard threw his second of two wild pitches to allow a run to score and would be relieved by Jason Adam. After an Arraez groundout cut the lead to one, Salvador Perez doubled to left to tie the game and then Acuña Jr.’s sacrifice fly put Venezuela up 6-5.
Adam Ottavino came in to pitch in the bottom of the sixth and ended up striking out two batters in a 1-2-3 inning. He got Eugenio Suárez to strike out on a sinker and Torres to strike out on a slider (11 of 15 pitches for strikes).
Team Venezuela would add on another run in the seventh on Arraez’s second home run of the game, this one coming against David Bednar, who ended up recording the win.
That memorable eighth inning started with a Tim Anderson walk, Pete Alonso recording his first hit of the WBC (pinch-hitting for Kyle Schwarber) and a J.T. Realmuto hit-by-pitch against José Quijada. Omar Lopez made the move to go to Silvino Bracho and Turner ended up making him pay with the grand slam.
Devin Williams did not allow a run in the eighth (1 H, 2 K’s) and Ryan Pressly picked up the save with a 1-2-3 ninth to preserve the win for the United States and send them to the semifinals for the second straight year. Eduardo Escobar got a pinch-hit at-bat against Pressly and ended up lining out to first base.
On Deck
It will be a short turnaround for Team USA as they will be back on the field Sunday night. They will be taking on Cuba in the semifinals (7 p.m ET, FS1). Adam Wainwright (1-0, 2.25 ERA) will take the ball for the USA against Roenis Elías (0-0, 2.57 ERA) for Cuba in an atmosphere where the USA might feel like the visiting team. It will be the first meeting between these two teams in the WBC.
Cuba has not played since their 4-3 win over Australia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in Tokyo, but they are on a three-game win streak after starting the WBC 0-2.
Mexico take on a powerhouse Japan team in the other semifinal on Monday.
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