Eugenio Suárez hit a game-winning RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to lift Venezuela to a 3-2 victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final on March 17, 2026, at loanDepot park in Miami, Florida.
Suárez, a 33-year-old third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball,[1] credited his faith during a post-game interview with FOX Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. "I mean, what can I say about this? It’s amazing. God is good, all the glory is for the Lord Jesus. He was with us the whole time," Suárez said.[2]
Wilyer Abreu, an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox,[3] hit a solo home run earlier in the game to help Venezuela take the lead. In the bottom of the eighth, Bryce Harper, first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies,[4] hit a home run off Andrés Machado to tie the score at 2-2.
Javier Sanoja stole second base ahead of Suárez's RBI double off Garrett Whitlock, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.[3] Venezuela secured its first WBC title, having previously advanced no further than the second round in 2017.[5]
The win capped a semifinal victory over Italy on March 16, 2026, at the same venue, where Suárez hit a solo home run.[2] The 2026 World Baseball Classic final was held at loanDepot park, home of the Miami Marlins with a capacity of 36,742.[6]
"We have to glorify, put his name in front of everything. Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we won the championship today. This is a celebration for all of Venezuela," Suárez added. He described his teammates as family, playing with passion for their country.
Players from both teams will return to their MLB clubs ahead of the 2026 regular season, scheduled to begin on March 27.[1]
Sources
- Major League Baseball, "Eugenio Suárez Stats, Fantasy & News", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/eugenio-suarez-570558
- FOX Sports, "World Baseball Classic Coverage", accessed October 2024, https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/world-baseball-classic
- Major League Baseball, "Wilyer Abreu Stats, Fantasy & News", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/wilyer-abreu-680738
- Major League Baseball, "Bryce Harper Stats, Fantasy & News", accessed October 2024, https://www.mlb.com/player/bryce-harper-547180
- Wikipedia, "World Baseball Classic", last edited October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Baseball_Classic
- Wikipedia, "LoanDepot park", last edited October 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoanDepot_park
