WATCH: Trea Turner blasts grand slam to give Team USA a two-run lead against Team Venezuela in World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is down to its quarterfinals with a matchup between Team USA and Team Venezuela. While Team USA got off to a hot start, scoring three in the first inning, they found themselves down two in the right inning.
Tim Anderson stepped up to the plate and drew a walk to start the inning. Pete Alonso has been struggling in the tournament singles, putting two men on for Team USA. A pitch then hit J.T. Realmuto to load up the bases for Trea Turner, and he did not disappoint. He hit a grand slam to put team USA up 9-7.
TREA TURNER IS AN AMERICAN HERO!!!!! https://t.co/Diliavv7HR
It was an absolutely electric moment as Team USA's dugout went wild. The atmosphere in the stadium looked like a World Series atmosphere as Loandepot Park was packed.
ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC https://t.co/6WyjR5GgEc
This is what the World Baseball Classic is all about. The best players in the game are stepping and making the plays their team needs them to make. Before Trea Turner's home run, Luis Arraez was expected to be the hero. He hit two home runs in the game for Team Venezuela.
Team USA's offense has carried them throughout the tournament. In the game against Team Canada, they scored 12 runs. That's what they need to do, as their pitching doesn't include the best names in the MLB.
The World Baseball Classic has lived up to the hype
The World Baseball Classic has been electric so far. There have been great games and many surprises along the way so far.
Nobody expected Team Dominican Republic to be eliminated in pool play. They were the favorites to win the whole tournament. They couldn't get it going as quickly as teams like Team Venezuela did.
As we get deeper into the tournament, the games will get more intense as more will be on the line. Since the quarterfinals, the tournament has moved to a single elimination bracket. One mistake could cost a team its WBC title hopes.
This is when baseball is at its most entertaining. While in most leagues, the playoffs come down to a series, so teams aren't under a crazy amount of pressure.
We'll see who's really clutch as this tournament comes down to a close. Every team still left is full of elite talent with what it takes to hoist the trophy when it;'s all said and done.