Venezuela defeats United States 3-2 for first World Baseball Classic title
Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic championship game on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, claiming the nation's first title in the tournament's history.[1][2]
Venezuela advanced to the final following a semifinal victory over Italy on March 16. The United States had earlier beaten the Dominican Republic to reach the championship match. Previous WBC winners are Japan in 2006, 2009 and 2023, the Dominican Republic in 2013, and the United States in 2017.[3]
Eduardo Rodriguez, a left-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, started for Venezuela and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing one hit -- a single to Brice Turang -- while recording four strikeouts, including two against U.S. captain Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. Rodriguez threw 57 pitches before being relieved.[4][5]
Venezuela took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning on a solo home run by Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox. Maikel Garcia of the Kansas City Royals added an RBI with a sacrifice fly in the third. The relievers, including Jose Butto, limited the U.S. to two hits overall until late.[6]
Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth off Andres Machado to tie the score at 2-2. Venezuela regained the lead in the top of the ninth when Eugenio Suarez of the Arizona Diamondbacks hit an RBI double to left-center after a leadoff walk and stolen base by pinch-runner Javier Sanoja off Garrett Whitlock of the Boston Red Sox.
Daniel Palencia pitched the bottom of the ninth for Venezuela, striking out Kyle Schwarber, inducing a pop-up from Gunnar Henderson, and striking out Roman Anthony to secure the victory.
Venezuela's best previous performances in the WBC were quarterfinal appearances in 2009, 2017 and 2023.[3]
loanDepot Park is the home stadium of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins.[7]
Sources
- World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), "WBC 2026 pool dates, venues confirmed", May 9, 2024, https://www.wbsc.org/en/news/wbc-2026-pool-dates-venues-confirmed
- MLB.com, "2026 World Baseball Classic", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic
- Wikipedia, "World Baseball Classic", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Baseball_Classic
- MLB.com, "Eduardo Rodriguez", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/eduardo-rodriguez-608566
- Arizona Diamondbacks official site, "Eduardo Rodriguez", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/diamondbacks/player/eduardo-rodriguez-608566
- MLB.com, "Wilyer Abreu", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/wilyer-abreu-666742
- Wikipedia, "loanDepot park", accessed October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/loanDepot_park
