Ladies and gentlemen, Trea Vance Turner.
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner’s grand slam in the top of the eighth inning proved to be the game winner as the United States defeated Venezuela 9-7 in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals. With the win, the United States advances to a semifinal match up with Cuba on Sunday in Miami.
The United States jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after the first and extended their lead to 5-2 in the fifth. Venezuela rallied to take a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the fifth and added another run, 7-5, in the bottom of the seventh.
It looked like Venezuela was going to turn to Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado to face Turner but instead went with Silvino Bracho. The rest they say is history.
The stakes will be high on Sunday in Miami as the United States looks to advance to the World Baseball Classic final. They will have to defeat a tough Cuba team that will have a large contingent of Cuban-Americans in the stands at loanDepot Park.
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