Overview
- Eugenio Suárez delivered the go-ahead double in the ninth after Javier Sanoja’s steal, moments after Bryce Harper had tied it with an eighth-inning two-run homer.
- Daniel Palencia closed with a perfect bottom of the ninth and two strikeouts, sealing Venezuela’s maiden WBC title.
- Eduardo Rodríguez set the tone and a deep bullpen limited Team USA to three hits as Maikel García’s sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu’s 414-foot homer built a 2-0 cushion.
- Maikel García earned tournament MVP honors after leading the WBC in hits, with a sellout crowd of 36,190 in Miami leaning heavily Venezuelan.
- U.S. scrutiny centered on a sputtering offense and pitching usage, with Aaron Judge going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, as Venezuela’s victory sparked nationwide celebrations and a declared National Day of Joy.