MIAMI — Eugenio Suarez’s double in the top of the ninth drove in the tiebreaking run that led Venezuela to its first-ever World Baseball Classic championship with a 3-2 win over the United States on Tuesday night.
Daniel Palencia sealed the victory in the bottom of the ninth when he worked a 1-2-3 inning to pick up his second save in as many nights and third of the tournament.
Maikel Garcia, who drove in the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly, was named the MVP. He led the tournament with 10 hits while batting .385 with one homer and seven RBIs.
“Every Venezuelan knows the effort we put in, and from where we come from,” said catcher Salvador Perez, the team captain. “Even in the smallest parts of Venezuela, people were supporting us. Even people watching on little black-and-white TVs, on their knees, supporting us. I just want to tell those people, ‘Thank you, from the bottom of my heart,’ for their support. We felt so much positivity. And even the ones who weren’t positive with us, I thank them for motivating us.”
Team USA lost in the WBC final for the second consecutive time, again failing to win what would have been its second Classic championship. The United States, which won the 2017 title, lost 3-2 in the 2023 final to Japan.
“I would love to do it again. I would love to get over the finish line. Not only two times, but (losing) 3-2 each time,” USA manager Mark DeRosa said after the loss when asked if he would manage the team again if asked to do so.
“Why? Because if you saw how hurting those guys are in that locker room now, you’d know why. The tidal wave of emotion that this WBC has become. … It’s a special group to be a part of, and I’m proud of the way we represented the USA.”
Venezuela, which had never previously advanced to the final, beat defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals, then knocked out the Cinderella team of the tournament, first-time semifinalist Italy, before defeating the U.S.
“This is a moment of pride and it’s unforgettable,” Venezuela’s Luis Arraez said. “… Getting this win makes me so proud because we’re dedicating this to our country, which really needs to feel this right now.
“It’s amazing to do this especially in Miami. We got so much support from the people from Venezuela and a lot of Latin people here.”
Suarez belted a 3-2 changeup from Garrett Whitlock (0-1) into the left-center-field gap with no outs, driving in Javier Sanoja with the go-ahead run. Sanoja entered the game as a pinch runner after Arraez worked a leadoff walk. Sanoja stole second, setting up the scoring opportunity for Venezuela.
“From the dugout, I was just making sure I supported my teammates and stayed ready,” Sanoja said. “My moment came and I was ready to steal that base. It was a pitch we felt we could run, and (Whitlock) made a slow delivery and I felt it was a perfect decision.”
Venezuela’s ninth-inning rally came immediately after Bryce Harper’s 432-foot, two-run homer off reliever Andres Machado (1-0) put Team USA on the board, tying the game at 2 in the eighth. The home run broke a string of 21-plus scoreless innings by Venezuelan relievers.
“I knew he was going to have a moment,” DeRosa said of Harper. “That’s who he is. He has the ability to have big moments in big spots.
“It hurts. We spent a special moment in my office after the game. I’ve watched him grow up in his career. I was just proud he was part of the team.”
Other than Harper’s home run, Venezuela pitchers combined to allow only two hits to the powerful United States lineup.
Eduardo Rodriguez started for Venezuela and yielded just one hit and one walk over 4 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out four. Eduard Bazardo, Jose Butto and Angel Zerpa permitted only one hit over a combined 2 1/3 relief innings.
Venezuela struck first with a run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Garcia that scored Perez, who singled to start the frame.
Wilyer Abreu’s 414-foot solo home run to center field off USA starter Nolan McLean in the fifth gave Venezuela a 2-0 lead.
McLean gave up two runs on four hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings. He fanned four.
–Field Level Media
