Venezuela has shocked the baseball world and is the 2026 winner of the World Baseball Classic. On Tuesday night, in an electric game, Venezuela reigns supreme in the WBC for the first time in the country’s history. Venezuela defeated Team USA 3-2 on Tuesday, and Venezuela was aided by a clutch RBI-double by Eugenio Suarez in the top of the ninth inning. It’s the first World Baseball Classic title in Venezuela’s history.
After leading 2-0 for a majority of the contest, the USA struck back with a huge Bryce Harper two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning. However, the USA walked the leadoff batter in the ninth inning, surrendered a successful steal, and then saw the game-winning run cross the plate after Eugenio Suarez’s clutch hit.
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Venezuela Defeats Team USA in WBC Final
GettyBryce Harper said he’d like to see MLB players compete at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Daniel Palencia came on in the ninth inning for Venezuela to close the game out. This came after a Cubs executive called Venezuela and said he could be used in one situation, a ninth-inning save situation, and that’s the exact situation Palencia was called upon to finish this game.
First, Palencia struck out feared slugger Kyler Schwarber with a high fastball. Next, Gunnar Henderson hit a sky-high pop-up on the infield, which was out number two.
And for out number three, Roman Anthony struck out on another fastball by Daniel Palencia. A pretty fitting end for Team USA, who could not get anything going for the entire night, and did not end up finishing the ultimate goal of winning this World Baseball Classic.
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Aaron Judge, Other USA Stars Did Not Provide When Needed
The biggest storyline of this WBC is that Team USA’s star players did not come up clutch when needed. Aside from Harper’s home run in the final game, the USA recorded just two hits and did not threaten past second base.
Aaron Judge went 0-for-4 in the WBC final, and Kyle Schwarber, Bobby Witt Jr, and Cal Raleigh all came up empty for the entire tournament.
The final game was a great starting pitching matchup between Nolan McLean and Eduardo Rodríguez, but it’s ultimately Team USA that comes up one swing short.
Judge, Schwarber, and Alex Bregman went a combined 0-for-10, and Witt also added in a hitless effort in the final game.
Much credit to Venezuela, they fought so hard the entire tournament, and the bullpen was so strong for the whole WBC. And clutch hitting by Eugenio Suarez, Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel Garcia, and Wilyer Abreu led to Venezuela capturing its first WBC title.
Eugenio Suarez’s Clutch RBI Lifts Venezuela Over Team USA in World Baseball Classic Final