Ronald Acuña Jr. fires playful jab at Japan after Venezuela’s stunning WBC victory

Venezuela delivered one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, eliminating defending champion Japan with an 8–5 victory and advancing to the tournament’s semifinals.

After the game, Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. celebrated the win in memorable fashion, offering a playful remark that quickly spread across social media.

“We’re good and happy. We ate sushi,” Acuña said after the game, referencing Japan’s well-known cuisine while celebrating Venezuela’s upset victory.

The comment drew plenty of attention online as fans reacted to the Venezuelan slugger’s celebratory jab following one of the tournament’s most surprising results.

Venezuela shocks Japan in WBC quarterfinal

The matchup began with fireworks almost immediately. Acuña launched a leadoff home run in the first inning, only for Japan’s Shohei Ohtani to answer with a homer of his own in the bottom half, marking the first time two MVP winners hit leadoff home runs in the same World Baseball Classic game.

Japan jumped out to an early lead and held a 5-2 advantage by the third inning, but Venezuela’s lineup mounted a comeback. A two-run homer from Maikel Garcia cut the deficit before Wilyer Abreu delivered the decisive moment - a three-run blast in the sixth inning that put Venezuela ahead for good.

The Venezuelan bullpen then shut down Japan’s offense, retiring 13 straight batters to seal the victory.

Historic moment for Venezuela

The win is significant for Venezuela, which had struggled to break through in previous editions of the tournament. The victory sends the team to the semifinals and keeps alive hopes of its first World Baseball Classic title.

Now Venezuela will face Italy for a spot in the championship game, while the other semifinal features Team USA against the Dominican Republic.

With Acuña leading a roster filled with major league talent, Venezuela suddenly finds themselves just two wins away from making history, and the Braves star clearly isn’t shy about enjoying the moment.

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