Overview
- Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic title 3-2 in Miami, taking the lead in the ninth on Eugenio Suárez’s RBI double after a leadoff walk.
- Mark DeRosa explained he bypassed Mason Miller in the tie game because he was “honoring the Padres,” reserving the closer for a save situation per a prearranged plan shared via Bob Nightengale on X.
- Miller had dominated the tournament without allowing a hit or run (opponents 0-for-12, 10 strikeouts) and had closed the semifinal against the Dominican Republic.
- Bleacher Report noted Miller threw 22 pitches in the semifinal and 18 in the quarterfinal, with the Padres evaluating his readiness before DeRosa confirmed pregame he would be limited to a save scenario.
- The decision drew heavy criticism from fans and media and sharpened debate over how MLB teams’ workload restrictions affect strategy in single-elimination international games.