Venezuela did not return to its hotel until after 2 a.m. on Sunday morning after its late-night victory over Japan at the World Baseball Classic. Rather than rest, however, the team resolved to get in some work later that day.

The preparation paid off in a big way in one of the biggest games in the nation¡¯s history.

Venezuela scored three runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to rally past Italy and into its first WBC final with a 4-2 victory at loanDepot Park in Miami on Monday night.