Venezuela Beats US 3-2 to Win First World Baseball Classic Title

Venezuela captured their first World Baseball Classic title in dramatic fashion, defeating the heavily favored United States 3-2 on Tuesday night at Miami's LoanDepot Park.

The victory came on Eugenio Suárez's tiebreaking double in the ninth inning that drove in the go-ahead run, securing a historic triumph for the South American nation.

Acento

Maikel García's third-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu's fifth-inning homer had built an early 2-0 lead before a roaring pro-Latin America crowd.

After the American team tied the game in the eighth inning, Venezuela responded in the bottom of the ninth when Luis Arráez drew a walk off reliever Garrett Whitlock, and the pinch runner Javier Sanoja stole second.

Suárez then came through with a bases-loaded double down the left-center alley to drive in Sanoja and put his team ahead 3-2.

Reliever Daniel Palencia sealed the incredible performance by striking out Roman Anthony for the final out, triggering a celebration as Venezuelan players poured onto the field, many draped in their national flag.

Venezuela's path to their historic first World Baseball Classic title was marked by remarkable comebacks and overcoming significant obstacles.

The Vinotinto starred in the tournament's most emotional story, reaching their first final after a challenging road that began with losses in exhibition games to Houston and Washington.

ACN

In the group stage, they defeated the Netherlands 6-2, Israel 11-3 and Nicaragua 4-0, though they fell 7-5 to the Dominican Republic.

Their quarterfinal matchup against defending champion Japan proved to be a turning point, as they erased a deficit thanks to a monumental three-run homer by Wilyer Abreu in the sixth inning off Hiromi Itoh, the Sawamura Award winner.

Ronald Acuña Jr. had opened the scoring with a homer on the second pitch of the game against Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The semifinal against an undefeated Italy (5-0) repeated the comeback formula - Venezuela erased a 2-0 deficit with a three-run seventh inning, featuring RBI singles by Ronald Acuña Jr., Maikel García, and Luis Arraez to win 4-2.

Manager Omar López encapsulated the journey's significance by placing a cap bearing the number 58—Venezuela's international dialing code—on the press table and saying, "If you know someone in Venezuela, call them. Tell them Venezuela is at the Olympics and in the World Classic final."

The 3-2 victory represented one of the biggest upsets in World Baseball Classic history, as Venezuela overcame overwhelming odds and expectations to claim their inaugural title.

“Venezuela beats US 3-2 on Suárez’s 9th-inning double to win first World Baseball Classic title Venezuela beats US 3-2 on Suárez’s 9th-inning double to win first World Baseball Classic title MIAMI (AP) — Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 Tuesday night on Eugenio Suárez’s tiebreaking double in the ninth”

Associated Press News

The United States entered the championship game as substantial favorites, listed at -285 on the money line compared to Venezuela's +225 odds, reflecting the vast disparity in perceived talent and championship experience.

This betting gap was even more pronounced earlier in the tournament, with the Americans opening as -110 favorites while Venezuela began at +900.

Sportsbook data revealed that Team USA had attracted over 50% of the handle to win the WBC title going into the quarterfinals at BetMGM, making them the sportsbook's largest liability, while Venezuela garnered just 2.4% of the handle, fifth-most at the book.

The American roster, led by captain Aaron Judge and featuring stars like Bobby Witt Jr. and Roman Anthony, appeared to have the superior talent on paper.

However, the Venezuelan team's resilience, clutch hitting, and timely pitching proved decisive.

Venezuela joined an elite group of World Baseball Classic champions, becoming only the fourth nation to win the tournament, joining Japan (3 titles), the Dominican Republic (1), and the United States (1).

The victory carried significant political weight beyond the sports world, particularly in the context of U.S.-Venezuela relations.

The triumph came at a time when tensions between the two nations remained elevated, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro had recently been re-elected under disputed circumstances.

El Nuevo Día

U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his hardline stance on Venezuela, made provocative comments about the country's baseball success, reviving the controversial "51st state" reference after Venezuela's semifinal victory over Italy.

On his Truth Social network, Trump initially commented, "Wow! Venezuela beat Italy tonight, 4-2, in the World Baseball Classic semifinal. They are really impressive," before adding, "Good things are happening for Venezuela lately!"

The political undertones were evident throughout the tournament, with Venezuela's players expressing pride in representing their nation on the international stage.

Ronald Acuña Jr., the Atlanta Braves superstar who emerged as a leader for Team Venezuela, spoke about what the success meant to him and his country, highlighting the significance of reaching the biggest baseball game in their history.

The victory provided a moment of national pride and unity for Venezuela, coming at a time when the country faced significant economic and political challenges at home.