Venezuela defeats the United States 3-2 to claim first World Baseball Classic championship
Venezuela won its first World Baseball Classic championship on Tuesday, beating tournament favorites the United States 3-2 in the final.
The game was tied 2-2 heading into the ninth inning before Venezuela took the lead. Luis Arráez walked to start the inning, then Javier Sanoja stole second after entering as a pinch runner. Eugenio Suárez scored the go-ahead run with a double to left center, then Daniel Palencia retired the sideline to clinch the lead in the bottom of the ninth.
Team USA was the favorite to win entering the WBC, but its star-studded lineup was quiet for much of its final two matches. After beating the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a controversial semi-final, the United States was once again only able to muster two points in the final. He only managed three hits in the loss.
Venezuela opened the scoring in the third inning with a sacrifice fly from Maikel Garcia. The Venezuelan bats were active from the start, recording a hit in each of the first three innings. The South Americans increased their lead in the fifth with a 414-foot solo home run to center by Wiyer Abreu.
It was largely a bullpen game for Venezuela, but starter Eduardo Rodríguez was fantastic. A pro since 2015, Rodriguez has undoubtedly had the best start of his life. He struck out four and allowed just one hit in 4 1/3 innings, giving his bullpen a 2-0 lead.
The United States did not find a runner on base until the third inning and never threatened Venezuela by putting a leadoff batter on base.
The American team was in danger of being scoreless until the bottom of the eighth. After a walk by Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper launched a 434-foot home run to center to tie the game.
After Harper breathed life into the United States, Aaron Judge couldn’t conjure up his own magic, striking out to end the eighth. Judge, the reigning American League MVP, finished the night 0-for-4 with three strikeouts and a groundout that stranded a runner on base. Over his last two games, Judge finished with just one hit, against six strikeouts.
By participating in the championship match for the first time, Venezuela also won its first gold medal. It was an impressive run to the round of 16 for the Venezuelans, who beat defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals and then beat a hot Italian team in the semifinals.
The United States has struggled in its last few games, scoring just nine points in its last three games. He hasn’t won the World Baseball Classic since 2017 and will now have to wait four more years for a chance at redemption.
