Team USA rally beats Venezuela
Will face Cuba in WBC semis Sunday night
Down 7-5 in the eighth inning, the United States loaded the bases and Trea Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam to lift Team USA to a 9-7 win against Venezuela Saturday night in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal in Miami. The victory sends the United States to the semifinals, where it will face Cuba Sundaynight.
Pirates pitcher David Bednar, the fifth U.S. pitcher, got the win. Ryan Pressly got three outs for the save.
Venezuela second baseman and Houston Astros star Jose Altuve left the game in the fifth with a right hand injury after he was hit by a pitch from Daniel Bard. The Astros said there would be an update on his status Sunday.
Luis Arraez hit two home runs for Venezuela.
Other WBC
Luis Urías hit the goahead single in a three-run seventh inning that fueled Mexico’s 5-4 comeback victory against Puerto Rico late Friday in a quarterfinal in Miami. Mexico, which advances to its first semifinal, faces Japan Monday night. Isaac Paredes was the hitting star for Mexico with a home run and an RBI single that tied the score at 4 before Urias plated the go-ahead run.
Other WBC notes:
• The Japan vs. Korea game last week drew a 44.4 TV rating in Japan to make it the most-watched game in one country in the history of the WBC. The game even beat all events during the Tokyo Olympics.
Giants
Former closer Sergio Romo signed a minor league contract so that he can retire as a Giant when the team closes its exhibition season March 27 against the A’s at Oracle Park. Romo was an integral part of the team’s bullpen from 2008 to 2016, during which the Giants won World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014. His 27 postseason appearances are the most in franchise history
Dodgers
Pitcher Tony Gonsolin, coming off a season in which he went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA, won’t be ready for opening day because of a sprained ankle.
Mets
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo has a strained knee and ankle and will be reevaluated on a week-to-week basis. Nimmo was trying to break up a double play at second base on Friday but slid awkwardly into the bag.