MLB Baseball 8-Hour Briefing

Last updated: March 17, 2026, 5:30 AM ET

World Baseball Classic Quarterfinals Action

Venezuela rallied past Italy in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, overcoming an early deficit to secure a spot in their first-ever tournament final against the United States. This dramatic victory immediately set the stage for the ensuing semifinal matchup, where Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata announced his resignation following the team's decisive 8-5 quarterfinal elimination by Venezuela in Miami.