Venezuela beats US 3-2 on Suarez's 9th-inning double to win first World Baseball Classic title

"Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic for the first time, rebounding from a blown eighth-inning lead to beat the United States 3-2 Tuesday night on Eugenio Suárez's tiebreaking double in the ninth. Maikel Garcia's third-inning sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu's fifth-inning homer off rookie Nolan McLean built a 2-0 lead before a roaring pro-Latin America crowd."

"Bobby Witt Jr. walked with two outs in the eighth and Bryce Harper drove the second straight changeup from Andrés Machado over the center-field fence for a two-run homer that tied it. Harper slowly trotted around the bases and took time at third to salute coach Dino Ebel."

"Luis Arraez walked against Garrett Whitlock starting the ninth. Pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second just ahead of catcher Will Smith's throw and came home when Suárez doubled to the left-center gap. Suárez spread his arms wide and pointed to the sky at second base while teammates streamed from the dugout to greet Sanoja at the plate."

Venezuela captured its first World Baseball Classic title by defeating the United States 3-2 in Miami. Venezuela built a 2-0 lead through the third and fifth innings with runs from Maikel Garcia's sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu's homer. The U.S. tied the game in the eighth when Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer off Andrés Machado. In the ninth inning, Luis Arraez walked and pinch-runner Javier Sanoja stole second before scoring on Eugenio Suárez's double to left-center. Daniel Palencia earned the save with a perfect bottom half. The loss marked the U.S.'s second consecutive World Baseball Classic final defeat and left the team without a title since 2017, despite featuring stars Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, and Paul Skenes.

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