By Redacción Fox Deportes
Team USA came from behind with a Grand Slam, won 9-7 and advanced to the semifinals
Jason Varitek did it in 2006. David Wright did it in 2013. It had been a decade since the last Team USA player hit a grand slam in the World Baseball Classic.
And when Trea Turner did it on Saturday night at LoanDepot Park, it punched the United States into the semifinals and handed Venezuela its first loss of the tournament, triggered by an injury to Jose Altuve.
Team USA with a dramatic comeback to advance to the #WorldBaseballClassic semifinals! pic.twitter.com/NYPdfD2FF5
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 19, 2023
Turner hit a 407-foot grand slam to left field on an 0-2 pitch by Silvino Bracho in the eighth inning to send Team USA to the semifinals against Cuba with a 9-7 comeback.
The United States trailed 7-5 after Venezuela capitalized on Daniel Bard’s throwing errors in the fifth inning. Tim Anderson led off the eighth inning by drawing a walk against José Quijada, and Pete Alonso pinch-hit a single. Quijada hit JT Realmuto to load the bases with no outs for Turner, who had gone 0-for-3 on the night.
Venezuela requested a pitching change for Bracho to face the shortstop. On an 0-2 count, Turner crushed a turnaround from 85.5 mph to 103.3 mph deep in the left field seats.
The United States will continue its quest to win back-to-back World Baseball Classic titles on Sunday night against Cuba.
