Eugenio Suarez, Venezuela edge USA to capture first WBC crown

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.

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.

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.

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 Luis Arraez worked a leadoff walk. Sanoja stole second, setting up the scoring opportunity for Venezuela.

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.

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 Maikel Garcia that scored Salvador 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