Eugenio Suárez’s double at the top of the ninth drove in the tie-breaking run that led Venezuela to its first World Baseball Classic championship with a 3-2 win over the United States in Miami.
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 team captain and catcher Salvador Perez.
“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’ … we felt so much positivity.”
Team USA lost in the World Baseball Classic final for the second consecutive time.
The US, which won the 2017 title, lost 3-2 in the 2023 final to Japan.
‘A moment of pride’
Venezuela, which had never previously advanced to the final, beat defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals.
It knocked out the Cinderella team of the tournament, first-time semifinalist Italy, before defeating the US.
“This is a moment of pride, and it’s unforgettable,” Venezuela’s Luis Arráez 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.”
Venezuela had never previously won the World Baseball Classic in the tournament’s history. (Getty Images/Capture At Media: Gene Wang )
Venezuela’s ninth-inning rally came immediately after Bryce Harper’s two-run homer off reliever Andrés Machado (1-0) put Team USA on the board, tying the game at 2-2 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,” Mark 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 US line-up.
Reuters