Venezuela claimed its first-ever World Baseball Classic championship with a dramatic 3–2 victory over the United States on Tuesday night at loanDepot park in Miami.

The game opened with Venezuela taking control early, building a 2–0 lead behind a Maikel García sacrifice fly and a solo home run from Wilyer Abreu. Team USA’s offense struggled to find momentum, managing just a few hits through most of the game while being contained by Venezuela’s pitching staff.

In the eighth inning, the U.S. finally broke through when Bryce Harper launched a towering two-run homer to even the score, briefly shifting the momentum – but that momentum didn’t last. In the top of the ninth, Eugenio Suárez delivered the decisive moment with an RBI double that brought home the go-ahead run. Venezuela then turned to closer Daniel Palencia, who shut the door in the final inning to secure the win.

“We are family here,” Suárez said on the FOX broadcast during the on-field celebration. “That’s why we play with passion, with love. Because we feel that jersey, we feel our country in front of us. That’s why this is a lot for us as players, as people, as human beings and as Venezuelans. Now, we are the champions.”

The victory marks a milestone moment for Venezuela, which had never previously won the tournament. It also adds them to the list of champions alongside the United States, Japan, and the Dominican Republic.

For Team USA, the loss is another close call on the biggest stage, finishing as runners-up for the second consecutive tournament after falling in the 2023 final. Despite their star-studded lineup, the offense never fully clicked, ending the game with limited production while key hitters struggled at the plate.

The emotional finish reflected both the intensity of the matchup and the significance of the moment, as Venezuela celebrated a long-awaited breakthrough on baseball’s international stage.

Editorial credit: Marcus E Jones / Shutterstock.com