Venezuela Triumphs Over USA 3-0 in 2019 WBC Victory!
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Eugenio Suárez #7 of Team Venezuela reacts after hitting a RBI double in the ninth inning of the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Venezuela outlasted the United States in a pitching duel, with Eugenio Suárez providing the tournament-winning RBI double in the ninth inning of a 3-2 victory Tuesday night in Miami to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Venezuela, which clinched a berth in the 2028 Summer Olympics by reaching the WBC semifinals, wins its first World Baseball Classic by winning six of its seven games.
Eduardo Rodriguez, the Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander, pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, allowing only a single and walk. Team USA remained scoreless until Bryce Harper hit a game-tying, two-run home run in the eighth. Team USA only scored two runs in each of its final two games.
That got them to the precipice of winning the tournament thanks to strong pitching of their own, holding the mighty Dominican Republic lineup on Sunday to just one run. They only allowed three runs on Tuesday, two of them off New York Mets starter Nolan McLean. Wilyer Abreu homered in the fifth for Venezuela.
Cubs closer Daniel Palencia closed out the win for Venezuela with a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts. Will Smith started for the second straight game at catcher for The United States, but was 0-for-3 with a strikeout in the title game. Smith during the tournament played in four of seven games, including catching in both the semifinal and championship game.
He had three hits in 13 at-bats, including a double, RBI, and two walks, hitting . 231/. 313/.