Trea Turner’s eighth-inning grand slam lifted Team USA past Venezuela 9-7 in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game on Saturday night.
MIAMI — Trea Turner didn’t jog his way to first base. He hopped. Pranced. Flexed. Roared. With his team trailing by two in the eighth inning of its World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Venezuela, the Philadelphia Phillies shortstop and Team USA catalyst unleashed a prodigious grand slam, providing the two-run lead that proved to be the definitive blow in an emotional, back-and-forth 9-7 victory at LoanDepot Park on Saturday night.
Team USA, champions the last time the WBC was staged in 2017, will advance to play Cuba in the semifinals on Sunday night.
The U.S. began the game by stringing together five consecutive hits against Texas Rangers left-hander Martin Perez, jumping out to an early three-run lead.
