LEAGUES News
Dominican powers past Venezuela to finalize WBC quarterfinals
The Dominican Republic blasted four homers in a 7-5 win over rival Venezuela on Wednesday in Miami to win Pool D at the World Baseball Classic.
Reliever Elvis Alvarado got Salvador Perez to ground into a game-ending double play in the ninth inning with the potential tying run on first base.
There it is!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 12, 2026
Venezuela gets a couple in the 9th, but the Dominican Republic holds on to secure the W! 🇩🇴 pic.twitter.com/qXMyWZZcgk
Juan Soto, Ketel Marte, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. went deep to help the Dominicans set a quarterfinals date with Korea on Friday. Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez will start that game for the Dominican. Meanwhile, Venezuela will take on defending champion Japan on Saturday, with a berth in the semifinals on the line.
Tatis' epic three-run homer in the fourth ended up being the difference in the highly anticipated contest.
FERNANDO TATIS JR. THREE-RUN HOMER!!! pic.twitter.com/6exLuQpTbk
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 12, 2026
Maikel Garcia went 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in a losing effort.
Venezuela will start left-hander Ranger Suarez, while the high-powered Japanese squad is countering with World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The USA faces Canada on Friday, and Italy will battle Puerto Rico on Saturday in the other elimination games.
