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MIAMI (AP) — Venezuela clinched its inaugural World Baseball Classic title, making a dramatic comeback after losing an eighth-inning lead to edge out the United States 3-2 on Tuesday night. The victory was sealed by Eugenio Suárez with a decisive double in the ninth inning.
In front of an electrified pro-Latin America crowd, Venezuela initially took control with a 2-0 lead, thanks to a sacrifice fly by Maikel Garcia in the third inning and a home run by Wilyer Abreu in the fifth off rookie Nolan McLean. Meanwhile, left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez, along with a stellar bullpen, kept the American lineup at bay, limiting them to just two hits through seven innings.
The momentum shifted in the eighth inning when Bobby Witt Jr. drew a two-out walk, and Bryce Harper followed by launching a two-run homer over the center-field wall off Andrés Machado’s second consecutive changeup. Harper’s slow trot around the bases included a salute to coach Dino Ebel at third base.
In the ninth, Luis Arraez walked against Garrett Whitlock, and pinch-runner Javier Sanoja successfully stole second, narrowly beating catcher Will Smith’s throw. Suárez then delivered a crucial double to the left-center gap, allowing Sanoja to score. Suárez celebrated with arms wide open, pointing skyward as his teammates rushed out to welcome Sanoja at home plate.
Daniel Palencia closed the game with a flawless final inning, striking out two batters, including Roman Anthony to secure his third save of the tournament. As the game concluded, Venezuelan players dashed onto the field to celebrate their triumph, while the American team stood in stunned silence by their dugout.
Despite a heralded roster of stars led by Aaron Judge, Harper and Paul Skenes, the U.S. lost its second straight final of baseball’s premier international event and remained without a title since 2017. Judge was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the championship game.
Ahead of a matchup with political overtones, players and coaches avoided discussing the government turmoil between the nations, heightened when the U.S. military captured Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in January. The sellout crowd at loanDepot park was heavily pro-Venezuela, with some booing American players during the introductions.
Venezuela became the second Latin American nation to win the WBC, after the Dominican Republic in 2013. The U.S. took the title in 2017 and lost the 2023 final to three-time champion Japan on this same field.
While the U.S., Japan and the Dominican Republic got much of the attention ahead of the sixth edition of the 20-nation event, Venezuela’s success was not that surprising. Sixty-three players born in Venezuela appeared on Major League Baseball opening-day rosters last year, second-most from outside the U.S. behind the Dominican Republic’s 100.
Venezuela went ahead in the third inning against McLean, getting the start because Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers decided the two-time Cy Young Award winner would make only a first-round appearance.
Salvador Perez sliced a first-pitch single and Ronald Acuña Jr. walked with one out. The runners advanced when McLean bounced a curveball, and Garcia followed with a sac fly to center.
Abreu doubled the lead when he drove a fastball 414 feet to center. His helmet fell off when he rounded second and he hopped in excitement as he neared the plate, where he was greeted by a line of teammates.
Rodriguez allowed one hit in 4 1/3 innings before Venezuela turned to its bullpen.
U.S. players had 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 darkened ballpark filled by fans wearing wristbands with festive blinking lights, Judge and Arraez led the teams down the foul lines for the introductions while carrying their nation’s flags.
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