Eugenio Suarez celebrates his home run during Venezuela's 4-2 World Baseball Classic semi-final victory over Italy
Megan BriggsVenezuela advanced to the final of the World Baseball Classic on Monday, ending Italy's fairytale campaign with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory.
Italy, the surprise package who upset a star-studded United States on their journey to the semi-finals, threatened to pull off another shock after taking a 2-0 lead after two innings.
But Venezuela produced a three-run rally in the seventh inning to take a decisive lead and seal a win which sends them into a final showdown against the United States in Miami on Tuesday.
Zach Derenzo put the Italians 1-0 ahead after JJ D'Orazio drew a bases-loaded walk off Venezuela's starting pitcher Keider Montero.
The Italians doubled their lead soon afterwards when Jac Caglianone came home after Dante Nori ground into a force out.
Venezuela hauled themselves back into the contest in the fourth inning when Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez blasted a 386-foot home run into left center-field off Italy starter Aaron Nola to make it 2-1.
Venezuela, who conquered defending champions Japan in the quarter-finals, then broke the game wide open with three runs in the seventh inning.
Ronald Acuna Jr's single scored Andres Gimenez to knot it at 2-2 and soon afterwards Maikel Garcia singled to left field to bring Jackson Chourio home for a 3-2 lead.
Luis Arraez then tacked on another run, his line drive to center-field allowing Acuna to score and make it 4-2.
rcw/pst
Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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