Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 to capture its first World Baseball Classic championship in a tense, tightly contested final at LoanDepot Park.
The scoring began in the top of the third when Maikel García delivered a sacrifice fly that scored Salvador Pérez. Venezuela added an insurance run in the fifth when Wilyer Abreu launched a 414-foot solo home run, his helmet flying off as he rounded second and celebrated with teammates at the plate.
The U.S. offense was mostly quiet until the bottom of the eighth, when Bryce Harper crushed a two-run homer to knot the game. In the ninth, a leadoff walk set up Eugenio Suárez, who doubled to left-center to bring home pinch runner Javier Sonoja with what proved to be the winning run.
Daniel Palencia retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out two and fanning Roman Anthony for the final out. Palencia finished with a perfect ninth, preserved a three-hitter, and recorded his third save of the tournament. Venezuelan players poured onto the infield in celebration while the American players watched from the dugout.
The U.S. roster, featuring stars such as Aaron Judge, Harper and Paul Skenes, fell short in its second straight WBC final and remains without a WBC title since 2017. Judge went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the championship game.
Players and coaches largely avoided discussing strained relations between the two countries that loomed over the matchup. The sellout crowd favored Venezuela, and some fans booed American players during introductions.
Venezuela becomes the second Latin American country to win the WBC, joining the Dominican Republic, which won in 2013. The U.S. was the 2017 champion and lost the 2023 final to Japan at the same ballpark. Venezuela’s depth of talent was on display: 63 players born in Venezuela were on MLB opening-day rosters last year, the second-highest total from outside the United States behind the Dominican Republic.
Venezuela’s rally against starter Kyle McLean began in the third when Pérez singled on the first pitch, Ronald Acuña Jr. drew a walk, and a bunt advanced the runners before García’s sacrifice fly. Abreu’s fifth-inning homer came off a fastball and electrified the Venezuelan dugout. Starter Rodríguez allowed one hit over 4 1/3 innings before the bullpen took over.
Before the game, U.S. players arrived in themed, game-worn Olympic hockey jerseys arranged by teammates. In a dimmed stadium illuminated by wristbands, Judge and Luis Arraez led both teams down the foul lines carrying their national flags.