Venezuela Dominates US in Riveting Political Game Show!
Venezuela celebrate after their World Baseball Classic victory over the United States (Megan Briggs) Venezuela stunned the United States 3-2 to win the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday for the first time, sparking an outpouring of national pride after a tense final dripping with political symbolism. Eugenio Suarez drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth inning to seal the historic victory in Miami over a star-studded American line-up hyped as a baseball "dream team". Jubilant Venezuelans poured into the streets of Caracas to celebrate their heroes following years of economic hardship and weeks after the dramatic US capture of authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro in a military raid.
"In Venezuela we don't want feuds," baseball fan Gerardo Oliviera told AFP as cars and motorbikes roared through the streets of the capital, proudly displaying the country's flag. "We've shown them on the field that we are more than just a sovereign people with character. " Trailing for most of the game, the USA looked to have hauled themselves back into the contest when Bryce Harper blasted a game-tying two-run homer in the eighth inning.
But Harper's salvo proved to be in vain as Venezuela regained the lead in the ninth inning, punishing a shaky performance from US reliever Garrett Whitlock to clinch victory. "What can I say, it's amazing," Venezuela hero Suarez said. "Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we win the championship today.
This is a celebration for all the Venezuelan country. " Suarez's winning double settled a final that had got underway in a raucous atmosphere at LoanDepot Park, with a large contingent of Venezuela fans in a sold-out crowd of 36,190 booing the USA lineup during pre-game introductions. US President Donald Trump, whose government captured Maduro in a January 3 raid and flew him to New York for trial on drug trafficking charges, had stoked tensions with a social media post on Monday.
He congratulated Venezuela for reaching the final while simultaneously suggesting the country could become the USA's "51st state. " Trump again returned to the theme moments after Tuesday's defeat, declaring in a post on his Truth Social platform: "STATEHOOD!!! President DJT.