Eugenio Suárez hit a game-winning RBI double in the top of the ninth inning off Garrett Whitlock, scoring Javier Sanoja from second base to lift Venezuela to a 3-2 victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida, on March 17, 2026.[1][2]
Wilyer Abreu hit a solo home run earlier in the game to help Venezuela build a lead. Bryce Harper tied the score at 2-2 with a two-out home run off Andrés Machado in the bottom of the eighth. The U.S. was limited to two hits in the game, according to reports.[1][2]
In a postgame interview with FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal, Suárez credited his faith after pointing to the sky from second base. "I mean, what can I say about this? It’s amazing. God is good, all the glory is for the Lord Jesus. He was with us the whole time," Suárez said. He added, "I just prayed at the time."[2]
Suárez continued: "We have to glorify, put his name in front of everything. Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we [won] the championship today. This is a celebration for all [of Venezuela]. ... We’re all family. That’s why we play with passion, with love because we feel that on our jersey."[2]
The win marked Venezuela's first World Baseball Classic title, following a semifinal victory over Italy on March 16, 2026, where Suárez hit a solo home run.[1]
The World Baseball Classic is a quadrennial tournament organized by Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association and World Baseball Softball Confederation, with the 2026 edition running March 6-22 and the championship final at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins.[3][4]
Suárez, a 34-year-old Venezuelan third baseman currently with the Detroit Tigers, batted cleanup for Venezuela. Abreu plays outfield for the Boston Red Sox, while Harper is a first baseman-outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies.[5][6][7]
Venezuela's previous best WBC finish was third place in 2009.[3]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "VENEZUELA SHOCKS TEAM USA TO WIN WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC FOR FIRST TIME", March 18, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- FOX Sports, "Eugenio Suarez post-game interview after Venezuela WBC final win", March 17, 2026, https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/world-baseball-classic
- World Baseball Softball Confederation, "World Baseball Classic", accessed October 2024, https://www.wbsc.org/en/event/world-baseball-classic-2026
- MLB.com, "2026 World Baseball Classic", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-world-baseball-classic-dates-announced
- MLB.com, "Eugenio Suárez Player Page", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/eugenio-suarez-533096
- MLB.com, "Wilyer Abreu Player Page", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/wilyer-abreu-681736
- MLB.com, "Bryce Harper Player Page", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/bryce-harper-547180
