"Bryce Harper had upended the World Baseball Classic final's momentum for Team USA with one swat in the eighth inning, tying Venezuela when the Americans were flat all night long. The pro-Venezuela crowd went quiet. That didn't last long. After Luis Arraez drew a walk to lead off the ninth inning, and after pinch-runner Javier Sanoja barely stole second base, Eugenio Suárez swatted the most important hit of his career, a go-ahead double that proved the difference in Venezuela's 3-2 victory."
"Daniel Palencia then sealed Venezuela's first ever WBC championship by retiring the American side in order, closing the door with a 99.7 mph fastball to strike out Roman Anthony and ignite an emotional celebration as a stunned Team USA, three years after losing 3-2 to Japan in the WBC final, watched."
"Venezuela dropped its final Pool D game against the mighty Dominican Republic before consecutive comeback wins over Japan, the defending champion, and Italy, the tournament's Cinderella entrant, to reach its first ever WBC final. The U.S. lost to Italy in Pool B play before narrowly defeating Canada and the Dominican Republic to advance to the championship game for the third straight WBC."
Venezuela claimed its first World Baseball Classic title by defeating Team USA 3-2 in the championship game at LoanDepot Park in Miami. Bryce Harper tied the game for the Americans with a solo home run in the eighth inning, but Venezuela responded decisively in the ninth. Luis Arraez drew a walk and advanced to second base on a stolen base by pinch-runner Javier Sanoja. Eugenio Suárez then delivered the go-ahead double that proved decisive. Daniel Palencia closed out the victory by retiring the American side in order, striking out Roman Anthony with a 99.7 mph fastball. Both teams entered the final with identical 5-1 tournament records, with Venezuela advancing through consecutive comeback victories over Japan and Italy.
Read at ESPN.com
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