In a highly anticipated WBC quarterfinal match on the 15th, Japan faced a tough defeat against Venezuela, ending their hopes of achieving back-to-back championships. Shohei Ohtani, who was the winning pitcher in the last WBC, unfortunately struck out as the final batter of the game. The turning point of the match came in the sixth inning when Venezuela's Abreu hit a three-run homer, giving them a significant lead that Japan could not recover from.

Despite fielding their ace, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Japan struggled against a resilient Venezuelan team, which had done its homework on Yamamoto's pitching style. Right from the start, they managed to take an early lead with a solo home run by Acuña. Although Ohtani quickly responded with a home run of his own, the team could not maintain momentum and lost crucial points in the following innings. Yamamoto pitched four innings before being replaced, having allowed two runs while the bullpen failed to protect the team's lead.

Venezuela's determination to win was evident throughout the match, as they celebrated each small victory with enthusiasm. The Venezuelan manager, López, had confidently prepared strategies against Yamamoto, and his players executed these well. This loss was particularly disappointing for Japan as it marked the first time they failed to advance to the semifinals in the WBC, raising the stakes for future tournaments where they will have to adopt a more aggressive approach if they wish to reclaim their title.