Suárez's Magical Blast Secures Venezuela's WBC Victory over USA!

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 This World Baseball Classic, the moment never looked too great for Team Venezuela. They stared down an early deficit against defending champions Japan, then caught fire to overtake them and reach the semifinals.

When the upstart Team Italy gave them a scare, they once again punched back, riding a seventh-inning rally to punch their ticket to their first ever WBC final. On Tuesday night, against a hungry Team USA, Venezuela’s offense struck quickly and Eduardo Rodriguez set the tone with a terrific start on the mound. Even when Bryce Harper’s late home run tied the score, they responded immediately with a rally of their own to jump back on top.

In the end, Eugenio Suárez’s go-ahead double in the top of the ninth was the crowning moment for Venezuela, who celebrated their first ever World Baseball Classic championship at loanDepot Park in Miami. Both starting pitchers came out of the gate hot. Nolan McLean induced a double play from speedster Maikel Garcia and retired the side on five pitches in the top of the first, then Rodriguez wasted little time sending the US packing in the home half.

The next time Garcia saw McLean though, there were two runners in scoring position in the third. The Royals third baseman and soon-to-be WBC MVP (. 970 OPS with a WBC-leading 10 hits) hammered a ball to Byron Buxton in left center field, but it was plenty deep enough to score the game’s first run for Venezuela.