Venezuela wins 2026 World’s Baseball Championship!
Miami, United States, Mar 17 (EFE).-
Venezuela was crowned the world’s top baseball team after defeating the United States 3-2 in Miami to win its first World Baseball Classic, powered by a ninth-inning double from Eugenio Suárez with the score tied at 2.
Suárez’s double, which drove in Javier Sanoja, sealed a victory that began with runs from Salvador Pérez in the third inning and Wilyer Abreu in the fourth via a home run.
Although Bryce Harper tied the game at 2-2 with a home run in the eighth inning, Venezuela quickly responded in front of a stadium packed with its supporters, handing the United States its second consecutive loss in a final after falling to Japan 3-2 in 2023.
Harper’s homer was the only blemish on an otherwise near-flawless performance by Venezuela’s pitchers, led by starter Eduardo Rodríguez.
Venezuela’s bullpen stifled a U.S. lineup featuring stars such as Aaron Judge, Harper and Bobby Witt Jr., limiting them to just three hits and allowing only one runner past first base.
U.S. pitchers posted similar numbers, allowing just six hits, though each Venezuelan hit resonated inside LoanDepot Park, which at times felt like Caracas.
Despite playing in its first World Baseball Classic final, Venezuela wasted no time asserting itself, with a hit by Ronald Acuña Jr. on the game’s first pitch.
The breakthrough came in the third inning when Salvador Pérez put Venezuela ahead, driven in by a sacrifice fly from his Kansas City Royals teammate Maikel Pérez, sparking jubilation among fans.
Earlier, Pérez had reached third base following a throwing error by U.S. player Nolan McLean.
Rodríguez kept the powerful U.S. hitters in check, allowing just one baserunner through the first third of the game.
Abreu doubled the lead in the following inning with a solo home run.
The U.S. offensive drought continued even after pitching changes for Venezuela, with Eduard Bazardo replacing Rodríguez, followed shortly by José Buttó.
As the game progressed, Venezuelan fans grew louder, chanting “strikeout, strikeout” each time the count reached two strikes.
The fifth, sixth and seventh innings passed scoreless, with just one hit apiece, as both teams cycled through pitchers in search of fresh arms.
But that was not enough to prevent Harper from tying the game with a two-run homer off Andrés Machado in the eighth, setting up a dramatic finish.
That set the stage for Luis Arráez, who drew a walk, and then Sanoja, who replaced him in search of the winning run. His speed allowed him to steal second base—confirmed after a review—before scoring on Suárez’s decisive double.
Daniel Palencia struck out Kyle Schwarber, induced a flyout from Gunnar Henderson, and struck out Roman Anthony to seal the victory and the title for Venezuela.
Venezuela finished the tournament with six wins and one loss—against the Dominican Republic in the group stage. Before Sunday’s triumph, it defeated Japan 8-5 in the quarterfinals and Italy 4-2 in the semifinals. EFE
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