MIAMI (AP) — Venezuela clinched their first World Baseball Classic title by overcoming a late-game setback to defeat the United States 3-2 on Tuesday night, thanks to Eugenio Suárez’s decisive double in the ninth inning.
Venezuela established a 2-0 advantage with Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly in the third inning and Wilyer Abreu’s home run in the fifth off rookie Nolan McLean, electrifying the pro-Latin America crowd. Simultaneously, left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez and the Venezuelan bullpen restricted the U.S. team to just two hits through seven innings.
The United States rallied in the eighth inning when Bobby Witt Jr. earned a walk with two outs, leading to Bryce Harper launching a two-run homer over the center-field fence from Andrés Machado’s changeup, tying the game. Harper made a slow circuit of the bases, acknowledging coach Dino Ebel at third base.
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In the ninth inning, Luis Arraez drew a walk from Garrett Whitlock. Pinch-runner Javier Sanoja then stole second base, narrowly beating catcher Will Smith’s throw, and scored on Suárez’s double to the left-center gap. Suárez celebrated with his arms wide, pointing skyward at second base, as teammates rushed out to greet Sanoja at home plate.
Daniel Palencia closed the game with two strikeouts in a flawless bottom half, securing his third save of the tournament. He struck out Roman Anthony to end the game, prompting Venezuelan players to storm the field in celebration while the American team watched from their dugout.
Despite a lineup filled with stars such as Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, and Paul Skenes, the U.S. suffered their second consecutive final loss in this premier international baseball event, having not won a title since 2017. In the championship game, Judge struggled, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts.
Before the game, the teams avoided discussing the political tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, which escalated when the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. The crowd at loanDepot park, largely supporting Venezuela, booed American players during introductions.
Venezuela’s victory marks them as the second Latin American nation to win the WBC, following the Dominican Republic’s 2013 triumph. The U.S. had claimed victory in 2017 but experienced defeat against three-time champion Japan in the 2023 final, held at the same venue.
While much of the spotlight was on the U.S., Japan, and the Dominican Republic leading up to the sixth edition of the 20-nation event, Venezuela’s success was not entirely unexpected. Last year, 63 Venezuelan-born players appeared on Major League Baseball opening-day rosters, second only to the Dominican Republic’s 100 from outside the U.S.
Venezuela gained the advantage in the third inning against McLean, who started because Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers limited the two-time Cy Young Award winner to a first-round appearance.
Salvador Perez hit a single on the first pitch, and Ronald Acuña Jr. followed with a walk. After a curveball from McLean advanced the runners, Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Abreu extended the lead by hitting a fastball 414 feet to center field. As he rounded second base, his helmet fell off, and he jumped with excitement as he approached home plate, greeted by a line of teammates.
Rodriguez gave up just one hit over 4 1/3 innings before Venezuela turned to its bullpen.
The U.S. team arrived at loanDepot park in game-worn U.S. Olympic hockey jerseys, coordinated by outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jack Hughes, who scored the gold medal-winning goal against Canada last month.
In a stadium darkened for dramatic effect, with fans wearing wristbands that flashed festive lights, Judge and Arraez led their teams down the foul lines, proudly carrying their national flags during the introductions.
