Venezuela win first World Baseball Classic title after taming USA in politically fraught final
Briefly

Venezuela win first World Baseball Classic title after taming USA in politically fraught final
"Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we win the championship today, an elated Suarez said afterwards. What can I say about this? God is good! Jesus, he was with us the whole time. We have to glorify [him], put his name in front of everything."
"The game, played before a sold-out crowd of 36,190 mostly pro-Venezuela spectators at Miami's LoanDepot Park, had been framed from the outset by geopolitical tension. Relations between the two countries have been strained since January, when US forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro."
"Facing a US dream team teeming with Major League Baseball stars and seeking their first title since 2017, Venezuela leaned on the same formula that carried them through upset wins over Japan and Italy: timely hitting, depth throughout the lineup and a refusal to wilt in big moments."
Venezuela achieved their first World Baseball Classic championship by defeating the United States 3-2 in a sold-out final at Miami's LoanDepot Park. Eugenio Suarez delivered the winning run in the top of the ninth inning, and Daniel Palencia secured the victory with a strikeout. The triumph carried significant geopolitical weight, occurring amid strained US-Venezuela relations following the January capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Despite external political tensions and rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, Venezuelan players maintained focus on baseball. Venezuela's success relied on timely hitting, lineup depth, and composure in crucial moments, enabling upset victories over Japan and Italy en route to the championship.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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