Watch MVPs Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. trade bombs in wild WBC start

MIAMI — It was two like two heavyweight boxers stepping into the ring, and without wasting any time, throwing haymakers, trying to knock each other out before the first round.

Venezuela and Japan traded blows in the first inning of the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals on Saturday.

Venezuela leadoff Ronald Acuna Jr. walked up to the plate and on the second pitch of the game by Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamto, he drove a 96.5-mph into the right-field seats. He danced around the basepaths, pounding his chest, screaming into the night, and crossed home plate as his Venezuelan teammates went wild, celebrating on the field with him.

That giddiness lasted right up until Shohei Ohtani took his turn at the plate, leading off for Japan. The four-time MVP sent Ranger Suarez’s slider 427 feet away into right field. Ohtani, normally reserved, turned around, and motioned with his palms down, as if it to say, “calm down fellas.” He strolled around the bases, pointing at his bench, and Team Japan, normally reserved, were on the field to enthusiastically greet him.

Game on, and the building was roaring.

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See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic

United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11) celebrates after hitting a two-run double against Great Britain during the fifth inning at Daikin Park on Mar 7, 2026.