Venezuela won its first World Baseball Classic championship on Tuesday, beating tournament favorite the United States 3-2 in the final.
The game was tied 2-2 before Venezuela pulled ahead in the ninth inning. Luis Araz walked to start the inning, then Javier Sanoza stole second after a pinch runner. Eugenio Suarez drove home a run with a double to left, and then Daniel Palencia retired the team in order in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the title.
Entering the WBC, Team USA was the favorite to win, but its star-studded team was silent in its final two matches. After defeating the Dominican Republic 2-1 in a controversial semifinal, the US was once again able to score just two runs in the final. It had just three hits in the losing effort.
Venezuela opened the scoring in the third inning with a Michael Garcia sacrifice fly. Venezuela’s bats were live early on, recording a hit in each of the first three innings. The South Americans added to their lead in the fifth courtesy of a 414-foot solo homer to center from Willier Abreu.
It was mostly a bullpen game for Venezuela, but starter Eduardo Rodriguez was fantastic. Since turning pro in 2015, Rodriguez has had the best start of his career. He struck out four and allowed just one hit through 4 1/3 innings, giving his bullpen a 2-0 lead.
The US didn’t get a runner on base until the third inning and never threatened Venezuela by putting the leadoff batter on base.
Team USA is in danger of being held scoreless until the eighth round. After a two-out walk by Bobby Witt Jr., Bryce Harper launched a 434-foot homer to center to tie the game.
After Harper breathed life into the US, Aaron Judge couldn’t conjure up any magic of his own, striking out to end the eighth. Judge, the American League MVP, finished the night 0 for 4 with three strikeouts and a groundout that left a runner on base. In his last two games, Judge finished with just one hit compared to six strikeouts.
Playing in the championship game for the first time, Venezuela has just won its first gold medal. It was an impressive run through the knockout stages for the Venezuelans, who beat defending champions Japan in the quarterfinals, then beat hot Italy in the semifinals.
The US has struggled in its last few games, scoring just nine runs in its last three games. It hasn’t won the World Baseball Classic since 2017 and now has to wait another four years for a shot at redemption.
